Putting Understanding the Changing Planet in Context: A Response

Abstract

Understanding the Changing Planet was commissioned by the National Research Council to assess, for an audience of policymakers and funding agencies, key ways in which the “geographical sciences” can help address pressing issues facing society. In keeping with the charge, the report shows how particular empirically focused research initiatives in the geographical sciences can advance understanding of a set of selected major societal issues. Although constrained by a charge focused on the geographical sciences, the committee took an ecumenical approach to science, highlighted many mixed-methods studies, and framed questions that cut across traditional subdisciplinary divisions. It is important to take the report on its own terms and not to view it either as an assessment of the entire discipline of geography or to see it as an effort to encourage geographers to adopt a particular methodological or theoretical stance. Instead, the report should be seen as a study demonstrating, for a broad audience, the types of contributions the geographical sciences can make to addressing major issues of the day.

Al informe Understanding the Changing Planet lo comisionó el Consejpo Nacional de Investigaciones para evaluar, con destino a una audiencia de constructores de políticas y agencias de financiación, las maneras claves con las que las “ciencias geográficas” pueden ayudar a confrontar cuestiones apremiantes a las que se enfrenta la sociedad. Cumpliendo su cometido, el informe muestra el modo particular como las iniciativas de investigación enfocadas empíricamente en las ciencias geográficas pueden avanzar en la comprensión de un conjunto selecto de los principales problemas de la sociedad. Aunque restringido por un encargo enfocado a las ciencias geográficas, el Comité adoptó un enfoque ecuménico de la ciencia, destacando muchos estudios con métodos mixtos y formulando preguntas que trascienden las divisiones subdisciplinarias tradicionales. Es importante abordar el Informe en sus propios términos y no mirarlo como una evaluación de la disciplina de la geografía en total, o verlo como un esfuerzo para estimular a los geógrafos a adoptar alguna particular postura metodológica o teórica. Al contrario, debe verse como un estudio que demuestra, a una audiencia amplia, los tipos de contribuciones que las ciencias geográficas pueden hacer para abocar los asuntos cruciales del día.

Key Words:

• geographical research
• geographical science
• geography

关键词:

• 地理研究
• 地理科学
• 地理

Palabras clave:

• investigación geográfica
• ciencias geográficas
• geografía

Acknowledgments

ALEXANDER B. MURPHY is Professor of Geography and Rippey Chair in Liberal Arts and Science in the Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403–1251. E-mail: [email protected]. His research focuses on the changing political geography of Europe and the Middle East, the relationship between political and cultural boundaries, and conceptualizations of territory and territoriality.

Notes

*In developing this article I benefited from input from many members of the committee that produced Understanding the Changing Planet (listed in Daniel Sui's introduction to the Focus Section). Nonetheless, I take responsibility for the particular structure and wording of this article.