Stuck between hard rocks and placelessness: A student perspective on the current state of physical geography

摘要

Physical geography is producing students who lack the depth of knowledge to participate in research done in harder biophysical sciences. Ostensibly, we are sacrificing this depth for breadth and interdisciplinary geographic thought. Realistically, we are failing to provide either depth or breadth, leaving students in a frustrating position where they can neither compete technically in earth science nor articulate the unique value they bring to these sciences as geographers. However, the critical need for interdisciplinary, holistic thinkers makes geographers invaluable to environmental sciences and society more generally. I suggest that to fill this role, geography can better serve students by rethinking its approach to teaching breadth and depth. The current undergraduate program should be rethought to reduce squandered opportunities to develop depth of knowledge in the early years of the degree, and prioritize cross-disciplinary, integrated courses and learning in the upper years.