ACADEMIC
UMD/GEOG
The goal of the University of Maryland Department of Geography is to better understand the Earth's land surface and the way humans interact with it. Research includes: -Human Geography Human Geography studies the co-evolution of structure and place with dynamic human processes such as changing socio-economic, land use, urban, and regional patterns, conflict and co-operation, diffusion of ideas or infectious diseases, and sustainable use of common-pool resources. -Physical Geography Physical Geography seeks to understand the spatial relations between the Earth's physical and biological systems, including climate, earth surface processes, and plants and animals. Human beings as agents of change in Earth systems is an increasingly important concern of Physical Geography. -Human Environment Interaction Human environment interactions studies the relationships between people and the biophysical settings in which they live and obtain their livelihoods. These studies include both the effects of humans on the environment and the effects of the environment on human activities. -Geographic Methods and Geospatial Information Geographic Methods involve the design, implementation, and use of techniques such as remote sensing, geographic information systems, spatial statistics, and computational laboratories. -Regional Geography A Showplace for Local/Global Interaction. Regional Geography relates local places to global systems, and looks for systematic commonalities as well as for sources of areal differentiation. Regions are attracting renewed attention as the "place", where all aspects of geographic research can meet. Website: http://www.geog.umd.edu/ [Summary provided by the University of Maryland.]