Geography: a sense of place: why in the world should you study geography? Because it's everywhere! - what do I do with

Career World, Sept, 2003 by Marilyn Sherman

On Location: The World of Work

Countless jobs, from travel agent to ambassador, are directly or indirectly related to geography. Here are some career areas in which a knowledge of geography is useful.

Business. "Many companies want a strong knowledge of international affairs," notes Harm J. De Blij of the National Geographic Society. Banking, manufacturing, and retail rely on a familiarity with geography.

Government. Geography is a natural for government workers, especially those in foreign service, public policy, and the military. The National Park Service, Bureau of the Census, Central Intelligence Agency, and transit agencies all have jobs linked to geography.

Planning. Urban, regional, and land-use planners must be familiar with geographical data. They map out where things should be located--water lines, highways, bus routes, parks, or apartment buildings, for instance.

Education. Teachers and museum educators refer to geography as they teach about countries, cultures, current events, history, and foreign language.

Research. Many research fields have a geography slant. Environmental researchers assess the impact of human activity on the environment. Market researchers focus on why products do or don't sell in a given locale. Demographers study population patterns.

Science. Scientists draw on geography to study rocks, climate, animals, prehistoric life, weather, and earthquakes. Botanists study how plants survive in their environment.

Technology. Many engineers, including civil and petroleum engineers, depend on knowledge of geography in their jobs. Technical workers use sophisticated navigation equipment such as global positioning systems.

Communication. Travel writers, journalists, and park rangers all need to know their geography.

Today employers in many different fields are interested in the skills learned through in-depth study of geography. These include the following:

* Knowledge of Earth's environments

* Understanding of economics, politics, and culture

* Knowledge of statistics

* Writing and computer savvy

Darcie Burns sits in an office in Chicago, but her work is in England, India, Canada, and other countries around the globe. With a job in international human relations, Darcie assists in sending employees into new environments with totally different cultures. Like many young people working today, she finds a knowledge of geography essential to her job.

Maps and More

Geography is the study of the Earth's surface. It helps us to understand where things are located and why. These may be people, cities, rivers, businesses, animals, or just about anything else that can be mapped, from oil wells to shopping malls. There are various types of geography. Darcie mainly uses cultural geography, which focuses on people. She also uses economic geography, which focuses on finances. Then there is physical geography, which focuses on place.

"If I have knowledge of the cultures and economics in a particular location, I am better able to anticipate the issues that might arise," Burns says. For example, she helps American citizens transferred overseas learn a new monetary system, find housing, arrange a move, and pay taxes in the new country. Whether the transfer is to Canada or India, Burns does research to make it all turn out smoothly.

Her understanding of geography also comes in handy as she works with immigrants from China, Hong Kong, Zambia, and other locations. She arranges their visas, passports, and legal paperwork. "Since immigrants are influenced by their cultural and economic systems, it helps to know where they are coming from," Burns says. Through her work, she has discovered that geography is more than names on a map. "It's great to know the state capitals, but it is also important to understand the big picture of how life is distributed around the world," she says. "Reading between the lines" gives her a broader understanding of international cultures.

Burns's job in human resources is one of many today that is international in scope. In fact, globalization is one of the major trends of the 21st century. There is more emphasis on international conglomerates, global manufacturing networks, worldwide communications, and international politics. So workers today need to be familiar with cultures around the world. Globalization makes a knowledge of geography more important than ever before.

On Top of the World

Beyond the usefulness of geography in the world of work, geography can also expand your horizons as an individual. Personally there is much to gain:

* Better understanding of world events. Whether it's the Iraqi conflict or the Korean situation, an understanding of geography is essential. Knowing the geography of a region can help you understand the background for a current situation.

* Better understanding of other cultures. One aspect of geography is the study of people who live in different places--their ways of life, customs, language, and values. The result of studying about or traveling to another place is usually more perspective and less prejudice. "I think I have a better understanding of people, and I hope I am more appreciative of differences," Burns says of her experience with international cultures.