geographer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A geographer (or geographer ) is an academically trained scientist in the field of geography . Geographers independently collect spatial data on different scales, analyze them, derive general theories and models from them and can use these to forecast spatial development trends.

activities

Geographers examine the earth's surface ( geosphere ) according to its spatial structures , the processes taking place and how they work (interactions between the geofactors ). They work at the interface between the natural sciences , social sciences and humanities and, depending on their orientation (e.g. university), belong to the natural sciences , social sciences and humanities scholars or spatial scientists .

Geographers are generalists because of the breadth of their field. The way you work is both analytical and normative ; Geographers deployed as planners orientate themselves towards the modern understanding of planning and provide solutions for problems between humans and the environment .

Contrary to the widespread belief that geographers are concerned with the production of map series , this is the task of cartographers today . In practice, the latter often work together with geographers, since analogue maps or digital geodata are most expediently depicting structures that can be spatially localized (which are examined by geographers).

By using geographic information systems , geographers are able to independently record, manage, analyze and present spatial data (EVAP) .

Fields of application

Today geographers work for local , regional , national and supranational authorities and agencies; furthermore often in chambers and associations , in development cooperation and in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) e.g. B. in the environmental sector. In the private sector, geographers mostly work as planners and consultant spatial scientists in planning and engineering companies . They also work in the transport industry in matters of transport planning. Larger companies and institutions also appreciate the expertise of geographers in the field of strategic and location development.

Selection of common workspaces:

Academic degrees and degrees

In the Federal Republic of Germany , Switzerland and Austria , the geographer is usually an academic profession with at least six semesters of university studies .

Geography can be studied at more than 40 universities in Germany. There is no university degree. In the course of the changed study regulations ( Bologna process ), there are predominantly bachelor's and master's degrees in geography with the respective academic degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science: B. Sc.
  • Bachelor of Arts: BA
  • Master of Science: M. Sc.
  • Master of Arts: MA

The following degrees and degree certificates were awarded beforehand:

  • Diplomgeographer (-in): Dipl.-Geogr.
  • Magister Artium (of Geography): MA
  • Scientific state examination: First (scientific) state examination

The doctoral degree for geographic studies is awarded according to the respective doctoral regulations . Common are:

  • Dr. rer. nat. (especially for physiogeographers)
  • Dr. rer. soc. (especially for human geographers)
  • Dr. phil.
  • Dr.-Ing. (especially for room planners)
  • Ph. D. (in the new tripartite system)

In Switzerland, the geographic university degree concludes with the academic degree dipl. geogr. from, in Austria with a Magister degree ( Mag. or Mag.a ) or in the future with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science .

Since geography as an interdisciplinary science has numerous points of contact with other disciplines and brings them together in a technical way, the job description of geographers can often not be clearly defined. Specialized professions in a related field are e.g. B. Geoinformatiker , geologist , meteorologist , soil scientists , Geoökologe , economic geographer , planners , regional planners , transport planners , city planners , real estate developers , site planners uv am

The geographer in art

Johannes Vermeer: The Geographer , 1669

Johannes Vermeer painted the famous painting The Geographer in 1668/69. Until 1797 it formed a pair of pictures with the painting The Astronomer . After that the pictures were sold separately. They document the growing reputation of scientific research in Europe in the 17th century.

In literature, the best-known geographer is the one in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's bestseller “ The Little Prince ” , whom the protagonist describes as a man with a “real job”, while the geographer makes it clear that he is not a researcher himself and only records the immortal.

Famous geographers by creative period

This article or paragraph describes the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

Antiquity

middle Ages

Early modern age

enlightenment

Modern

Contemporary geographers

See 20th Century and 21st Century Geographers .

See also

literature

Biographies

  • Hanno Beck: Great geographers. Pioneers - outsiders - scholars. Dietrich Reimer Verlag, Berlin 1982, ISBN 3-496-00507-6

Studies and fields of activity

  • Jussi Baade, Holger Gertel, Antje Schlottmann: Scientific work: A guide for students of geography . 2nd Edition. Haupt / UTB, Bern / Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-8252-2630-5 .
  • Axel Borsdorf : Think geographically and work scientifically . 2nd Edition. Spectrum, Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-8274-1920-0 .
  • The job market for geographers . In: Federal Employment Agency (Ed.): Labor market information for qualified specialists and executives . 2005 ( online [PDF]).
  • Johannes Glückler, Pascal Goeke: The knowledge architecture of German university geography: A look behind the organizational plan of a discipline . In: SPACES online . No. 6 , 2008 ( online [PDF]).

Web links

Wiktionary: Geographer  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl-Werner Schulte, Stephan Bone-Winkel, Wolfgang Schäfers: Real Estate Economics I: Business Basics . S. 414 .