Lecture 1

Geographical Perspectives
Prof Alan Ziegler
Dr Karen Lai

GE1101E/GEK1001

11 Jan 2016

Outline
INTRODUCTION
PART I. Geographical perspectives
PART II. House keeping matters

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1. Geographical perspectives
What is Geography?
Geo (Greek): Earth
Graphie (Greek): To write/study
Key words?
Earth, place, space, landscapes, nature, environment,
development, mountains, rivers, volcanoes, maps, climate
change/global warming, cities, countries, regions
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 The study of earth surface & human habitation on

earth
Natural science & social science
Different topics and areas of concerns (e.g. cities,

economy, cultures, soils, rivers, hazards)

But central concerns with spatial processes and

human-environment relations

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The Geographical Imagination

Particular perspectives about how the world is

(or should be) organised

The power of geographical imaginations
Contradictions
Negotiations

Value of geographical enquiry

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The story of
Facebook
Makes geography irrelevant?
No interaction with earths physical/natural systems?
Product/service is weightless and virtual?
End of geography??
Facebook as a geographical story
The patterning of activities on the earths surface
Space isnt just where things happen, it is also why things
happen where they do

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Key concepts in (human) geography

i. Space (location, distribution)
ii. Place
iii. Territory
iv. Scale
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i. Space
Location, distance, distribution/patterns
Connecting people in disparate locations
Business model: advertising space
Choice of IPO listing (NASDAQ in New York)
Location of servers, data storage, internet

infrastructure
Iceland governments investment in
data centres
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ii. Place
Unique ensemble of physical and human features
Distinctive features
Contemporary processes and historical layers
Appreciating complexities
Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook at Harvard

University
Importance of Silicon Valley

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iii. Territory
Lines and borders
Power and control
Role of nation states and governments

(national, city)
Also local level (e.g. shopping malls, schools)

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iv. Scale
Not hierarchical
Processes and

impacts across scales

Socially constructed

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Physical geography

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3. Tutorials and Practicals

Two tutorial sessions
Human Geography
Weeks 3 and 7
Not a mini-lecture but discussion-driven
Preparation of group projects
Two practical sessions
Physical Geography
Weeks 9 and 11

Venue: Earth Lab (AS2 #02-03)

Close to LT 13 and Humble Origins caf
Sign up for tutorials & practicals separately

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On-line tutorial registration

Fri, 15 Jan (9am) to Tue 19 Jan (5pm)

On-line Add/Drop/Swap
Wed 20 Jan (9am 5pm)

Manual tutorial registration

Thu 21 Jan (9am 5pm) & Fri 22 Jan (9am

12noon)
Register at the Departments Admin Office
(AS2#03-01) on a 1st come 1st serve basis.
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4. Assessment
Continual Assessment (CA): 40%
ONE Human Geography project (20%)
Groups of 2-3 students, during Tutorial 1
Max 2,500 words
TWO Physical Geography practicals (20%)
Final examination: 60%
Thursday, 28 April 2016 (Evening)

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5. Readings & IVLE

Readings in E-Reserves
Lectures on Webcast (IVLE > Web Lecture)
IVLE Workbin:
Lecture notes
Tutorial and practical worksheets
Project guides

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