Interdisciplinary Relevance and Applications of Geography in Environmental and Social Sciences

Abstract

Geography has now become an interdisciplinary field of study, concerned with the relationships and interactions of humans with their environments, specific features of intense spatial processes happening across both local, regional and even global scales. Conventionally speaking, this discipline used to consist of only two broad classifications, namely physical geography and human geography. Now, with the progression of time, advent of technology and growing demand for greater knowledge beyond traditional insights, the field of geography has significantly evolved into an integrative science, a field that is now capable of addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges like climate change, urbanization, environmental justice, disaster management and sustainable development. The interdisciplinary nature of geography makes it beneficial for scholars/researchers alike to understand the natural, social and technological sciences in unison, wherein one area makes sense in relation to the other area, thus giving a broader understanding of geographic processes and shedding light on aspects that were previously unknown to neglected by the scholar. Nowadays, new technological methods have emerged making the interdisciplinary nature of the field far more distinct and necessary, like the use of spatial analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, geostatistics and field surveys. This brief study explores the interdisciplinary significance of geography by diving into its theoretical foundations, contributions and relevance to the environmental sciences, applications in social science and its significance in addressing contemporary global challenges like climate change...