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Department of Geography

Mission

The Department of Geography’s mission is to provide its students with educational experiences of the most eminent caliber and to conduct vital research that produces valuable publications. The Department is committed to outstanding teaching and scholarly activities within the framework of academic freedom and diversity of ideas. The Department of Geography is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and to serving our communities, from local to international.

Introduction

The Department of Geography has been established in December 2012 at University of Gujrat. Geography is the most interdisciplinary subject and it is also the most integrated discipline on campus, insofar as the material taught in our classes about environmental processes can be found in other disciplines, but are only put together as a whole story in Geography. Above all, Geography is “spatial”—virtually everything has a spatial component, from the distribution of subatomic particles to the choices we make when we buy groceries. Therefore, as a Geographer, you can choose to study an enormous range of subjects. Geography is also an extremely hands-on discipline with a strong emphasis on using computer–based tools and participating in field studies. Knowing where things are, why they got there, and how they work is critical to understanding our world today and how it is changing—this is Geography!

The Department of Geography is represented by Three Crosscutting Themes

  1. Earth System Science: the physical and biological processes of the environment
  2. Human Geography: the way humans perceive, interact with, and modify the environment
  3. Modeling, Measurement, and Computation: techniques for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of geospatial data using tools such as GIS, remote sensing, and spatial statistics

With roots in exploration, map making, and accounts for differences from place to place, modern geography investigates the spatial organization and material character of planet Earth and the physical and human processes that shape its places and landscapes. Geographers study many different topics and places, but they share a concern with what can be learned from analyzing spatial arrangements (both perceptual and actual) and the changing characteristics of places and landscapes. In pursuit of their work, geographers employ a wide range of tools including field exploration, map making, geographic information analysis, textual analysis, and modeling. The teaching and research being undertaken in the Department of Geography at the University of Gujrat critically explores biophysical changes (global and local) shaping the planet; the prospects and challenges of fostering sustainability; the nature and implications of geopolitical, economic, and cultural shifts in different parts of the world; and the nature, use, and understanding of maps and geospatial technologies.

The study of Geography is exciting, challenging and relevant to today’s world. Geographers study the natural processes of the physical environment, as well as the activities and consequences of humans in this environment. Some geographers specialize in coastal, glacial or fluvial processes and landforms, climatology, biogeography, hydrology or environmental change. Others study regional economics, population change, and the problems of rural or urban areas. Still others, specializing in spatial analysis, bring the power of geographic information science to bear on a wide range of research problems. Increasingly, these varied interests are coming together in the study of environmental problems and Geographers lead the way in resource management.

Program Overview

It is a job and research- oriented discipline. Courses have been designed as such to include not only theoretical knowledge but also to instill the empirical use of knowledge. Our research covers a broad range of fields across human and physical geography, with further links to other disciplines. We explore the interface between nature and society, and engage in debates on central problems and concepts of the discipline, such as space and place, scale (e.g. the local and the global), and the fundamental issue of structure and agency in the social sciences. Our research provides relevant and novel insight to the complex challenges our society is facing by an interdisciplinary orientation and a tradition for focused collaboration among the staff. Our Geography Program is organized into four major thematic areas: physical geography, people-environmental studies, cartography and GIS, Remote Sensing and human geography. The present faculty is working diligently to promote this discipline on modern lines. Specifically the focus is on introduction of Research-Oriented modules, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. Department of Geography, University of Gujrat, is offering MPhil, and a BS in Geography.

Chairperson´s Message

Our Earth is confronting many challenges such as globalization, climate change, resource depletion, and environmental contamination. Geography, being a long-standing discipline using a variety of techniques, has demonstrated the tremendous vitality and prospect in helping people to find solutions for these problems. Resource management, especially in the context of human-environment relationship, has always been a focal spot of interest and inquiry in geographical studies. It is our department’s mission to pursue geographical knowledge and effective resource management to seek solutions for urban and regional sustainability.

The Department’s teaching and research are organized around four basic areas, i.e., Urban and Regional Development, Physical and Environmental Systems, Geographical Information and Analysis, and Global Challenges. Students can pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies leading to BS, M.Sc. and M.Phil degrees in Geography. Faculty members of the department are actively involved in research projects on issues of Urban Hazard Assessment, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Regional Development with the support of grants from various funding bodies such as National Disaster Management, Prime Minister Secretariat, Pakistan, Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan. Research findings are continuously being published in leading national and international journals to advance scholarship.

Welcome to our homepage which introduces you to our department and shows you some of the activities and achievements in our pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and service. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.