1. Where Geography Can Take You:
NASA .

2. What is Geography?
Geography deals with similarities and differences in people and the environment from place to place. Examples of questions a geographer might ask include:
Why are prearranged marriages common in many parts of the world?
Why are the interiors of continents subject to extreme climates?
Explaining these kinds of spatial variations is central to geography.

3. Geographers are interested in:
landform development
Tom Wikle
political and economic systems
Alyson Greiner
cultures
human impacts on the environment
Maps and map projections

4. Should I take
Geography?

5. There are four things I need to think about first…1
Will I enjoy it? 2
Will it help me get a job?
Will it help me to become a better person? 3 4
Will it give me access to NCEA Level 2, 3 & Scholarship

6. do
Well,
employers value
Geography?

7. YES!
The skills that are taught within the subject are very useful in work, study and life.

8. What employers say
“Geography gives you a broader view of the world than many other subjects do and an appreciation of the economic, social, political and environmental consequences of decisions. These are skills that are increasingly valued in business.”
“The first thing I look for on a CV is Geography.” Peter Dale, former CEO of Hilary Commission.

9. Index to Geography and Career Opportunities
Training in geography opens doors to careers in these areas:
Physical Geography
Human Geography
Biogeography
Geomorphology
Hydrology
Weather & Climate
Natural Hazards
Regional Geography
Cultural Geography
Historical Geography
Urban Geography
Economic Geography
Geotechniques
Cartography
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Remote Sensing
Resource Management
Environmental Geography
Outdoor Recreation Management
Geographic Education
Geographic Research
Resources for Educators
Back to start

10. Physical Geography
Index

11. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Examines the distribution of Earth’s surface features such as mountain ranges and rivers.
Analyzes the processes that create and shape landforms.
Index

12. Subdivisions of physical geography include:
Biogeography
Geomorphology
Hydrology
Weather & Climate
Natural Hazards
Index

13. Dept. of conservation park
Physical Geography
Career options in physical geography that will use your geographic skills include:
volcanologist
weather forecaster
atmospheric data technician
soil scientist
Which of these topics interest you?
meteorologist
wildlife ecologist
landforms
vegetation
surveyor
hydrologist
natural hazards
water
weather
climates
plant specialist
wildlife
climatologist
pharmaceutical researcher
Landscape architect
geologist
Dept. of conservation park
ranger
environmental planner
Index

14. BIOGEOGRAPHY Physical Geography
Biogeographers are interested in plant or animal distributions and their habitats.
A biogeographer might study the effect of environmental change on an ecosystem such as the river estuaries, shown here.
Careers suited to biogeographers include:
habitat researcher
plant specialist
wildlife ecologist
pharmaceutical researcher
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

15. GEOMORPHOLOGY / GEOLOGY
Physical Geography
GEOMORPHOLOGY / GEOLOGY
Geomorphologists AND Geologists work to explain the origin and development of landforms and rock types.
Careers suited to geomorphologists include:
geologist
soil scientist
hydrologist
Alyson Greiner
Erosion and fracturing are two of the processes that have shaped this giant granite boulder.
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

16. A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Physical Geography
A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
“Geography plays an important part in my day-to-day work because scientists and policy makers have come to realize that most environmental problems require training, experience, and expertise that deal with both humans and natural systems, and how they interact with each other.”
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

17. Geographers at work . . . . . . as hydrologists Physical Geography
Hydrologists monitor water sources and movement on and below the surface of the earth. They work for regional councils such as Horizons mw.
Hydrologists doing field work measure stream flow.
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

18. WEATHER & CLIMATE Physical Geography
Training in geography provides good preparation for work related to the global patterns of weather and climate.
Lightning
Mammatus clouds
Careers suited to physical geographers interested in weather and climate include:
meteorologist
climatologist
weather forecaster
– all employed by the met. service in NZ.
atmospheric data technician
All photos courtesy:
NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library
Large hailstones
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

19. Geographers at work . . . . . . as risk assessors Physical Geography
Insurance companies employ risk assessors to determine if eg properties are within floodplains or earthquake damage zones are likely to sustain damage in the event of severe weather or earthquakes.
Damage in Christchurch earthquake
Alyson Greiner
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

20. Geographers at work . . . … as DOC staff Physical Geography
DOC staff – eg rangers, manage NZs conservation areas, protecting the plants and animals and providing services to tourists.
Alyson Greiner
Index
Subdivisions of physical geography
Career options in physical geography

21. Resource Management
Index

22. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Involves monitoring direct and indirect impacts of people on the environment.
Includes developing and implementing plans and programs to conserve or protect natural resources.
Index

23. Subdivisions of resource management include:.
Tom Wikle
Tom Wikle .
Environmental Geography
Environmental planner
Index

24. Career options in resource management include:
Forestry scientist
pollution control consultant
Which of these topics interest you?
park ranger
ecotourism
planner
resource conservation
state and national parks
environmental lawyer
recycling coordinator
solid waste management planner
soil conservation specialist
Index

25. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY
Resource Management
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY
Environmental geographers monitor problems caused by the impact of human activities. They also develop solutions to these problems.
Careers suited to environmental geographers include:
pollution control consultant
water quality manager
recycling coordinator
environmental lawyer
solid waste management planner .
Index
Subdivisions of resource management
Career options in resource management

26. . . . as environmental lawyers
Resource Management
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as environmental lawyers
Lawyers:
settle disputes concerning the use of natural resources
interpret laws such as the Resource Management Act Act
need training in both geography and law.
Auckland High Court.
Alyson Greiner
Index
Subdivisions of resource management
Career options in resource management

27. OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT
Resource Management
OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT
Managing outdoor recreation areas involves knowing the environmental history and human use of an area.
Today outdoor recreation management often incorporates principles of ecotourism, such as minimizing the ecological impact of tourists.
The Perry-Castañeda Library Collection at The University of Texas at Austin
Careers suited to outdoor recreation managers include:
park ranger
forestry scientist
soil conservation specialist
outdoor interpretive guide .
Index
Subdivisions of resource management
Career options in resource management

28. Human Geography
Index

29. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Seeks to understand and explain the distribution of human activities around the world.
Examines the relationships between people and their environment.
Index

30. Subdivisions of human geography include:
Regional/Cultural Geography
Historical Geography
Urban Geography
Economic Geography
Top: Austin, Texas. (photo by Alyson Greiner)
Bottom Right: Skyline of Manhattan.
Bottom Left: Telephone booths in Great Britain.
Index

31. Career options in human geography include:
market researcher
international business representative
diplomat
city/regional planner
political analyst
Which of these topics interest you?
lawyer
health and health care
travel consultant
people
politics
cities
tourist operator
economies
history
places
pilot
immigration officer
journalist
market researcher
export agent
sales representative
tour guide
museum director
Index

32. . . . as international business representatives
Geographers at work . . .
Human Geography
. . . as international business representatives
Corporations employ regional and cultural geographers to provide specialized information about countries where they conduct business.
International exchange and study abroad programs provide an excellent way to learn about a foreign country in preparation for a career in international business.
Jennifer Spencer
A student from South Africa (right) schedules her geography classes.
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

33. Geographers at work . . . . . . as diplomats Human Geography
International diplomacy makes use of the expertise of historical geographers who can explain ethnic and political conflicts, and can help negotiate treaties.
Diplomats require strong skills in geography, history, and political science. It is not unusual for diplomats to learn a foreign language as well.
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

34. A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Human Geography
A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Alyson Greiner
“Be interdisciplinary in your studies [for example] applied geographers need a background in cultural geography and vice versa. It brings a different thought process to your work and to your studies.”
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

35. URBAN GEOGRAPHY Human Geography
Careers suited to urban geographers include:
city planner
transportation coordinator
chamber of commerce director
Auckland CBD.
Alyson Greiner
How do cities organize their space?
Where do shopping areas and neighborhoods develop?
What services should cities provide surrounding areas?
Alyson Greiner .
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

36. Geographers at work . . . . . . as planners Human Geography
Designing our surroundings to suit human needs and preferences lies at the core of planning.
PDC plaza Palmerston North
Alyson Greiner .
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

37. A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Human Geography
A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
“[Geography] was instrumental in opening the field of planning as a possibility. By taking courses which were directly tied to urban planning I was able to land my first planning job.”
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

38. A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Human Geography
A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
“In my day-to-day work, statistics are important, the relationship of statistics to spatial data is essential much of the classwork I had in geography was very influential in that respect ”
Index
Subdivisions of human geography
Career options in human geography

39. N W S E
Geotechniques
Index

40. GEOTECHNIQUES
Applies geographic tools and methods to improve our understanding of the earth. N W S E
Involves the use of maps, aerial photographs, satellite images, the global positioning system (GPS), and sophisticated computer software.
Index

41. Subdivisions of geotechniques include:
Cartography
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Remote Sensing
Andy Maxey
A GPS receiver uses data from satellites to establish location.
Index

42. Career options in geotechniques include:
computer mapping software developer
GIS manager
Which of these topics interest you?
GIS analyst
satellite images
cartographer
graphic design
map interpreter
aerial photos
spatial data collection
field surveyor
aerial photo analyst
GIS software developer
remote sensing technician
spatial data analyst
Index

43. Geographers at work . . . . . . as cartographers Geotechniques
Cartographers create maps
with a variety of tools including
computers and mapping software.
Photos by Jennifer Spencer
Top: A cartographer at his computer.
Center: Working at a light table.
Bottom: Digitizing a map.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

44. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Geotechniques
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
A geographic information system can be thought of as an intelligent mapping system that allows overlay and analysis of different kinds of geographic features such as roads, rivers, soil types, and political boundaries. A GIS is useful for uncovering previously unknown relationships between these data layers.
Careers suited to GIS specialists include:
city GIS manager
spatial data analyst
GIS software developer
natural resource GIS specialist
Jennifer Spencer
A GIS technician works with a map of ecoregions.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

45. A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Geotechniques
A Geographer’s Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
“Geography applies to many areas of our daily lives which gives the subject a scientific yet human appeal.”
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

46. . . . improving production through precision agriculture
Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
. . . improving production through precision agriculture
GIS is helping to make agricultural production more efficient. Farmers can use satellite and field data to determine when, where, and in what quantities to apply insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Jennifer Spencer
Farm machinery can be equipped with GPS receivers and GIS maps that allow specific control of the application of fertilizers.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

47. GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
Geotechniques
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
Dale Lightfoot
GPS receivers determine locations using radio signals transmitted by Earth-orbiting satellites.
Field researchers use GPS receivers to record the location of study sites, and later to navigate back to these sites.
A geographer uses a GPS unit to establish the location of a research site.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

48. . . . using the Global Positioning System
Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
. . . using the Global Positioning System
Geographers use GPS receivers to map Earth phenomena such as wildlife habitats and highway routes.
For example, a biogeographer can use GPS to track animals equipped with radio collars to follow location and movement.
Copyright © 1998 Peter H. Dana.
The GPS constellation of 24 Earth-orbiting satellites.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

49. REMOTE SENSING Geotechniques
Remote sensing focuses on the collection and analysis of information about the earth using satellites or aircraft-mounted sensors or cameras.
Examples of remote sensing applications include:
analyzing land use changes in an urban area
measuring differences in sea surface temperatures caused by El Niño
identifying areas threatened by pine beetle infestation
NASA Image eXchange
Satellite image of Auckland.
Index
Subdivisions of geotechniques
Career options in geotechniques

50. Well known New Zealanders who have Geography degrees
Jim Hickey (TV weather presenter) Wayne Smith (ex All Black and Chiefs coach) Gilbert Enoka (NZ sports psychologist)