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Academic disciplines are typically defined by either the objects of study (i.e. astronomy studies space) or by the methods with which topics are addressed (i.e. mathematics) (Baerwald, 2010). Geography falls into the latter category marked by a spatial inquiry and analysis approach. Geography, unlike some other disciplines that have well-established foundations and conceptual knowledge, borrows heavily from other fields. For the geographer-geomorphologist, geology provides many of the foundational concepts upon which landscapes are understood. For the geographer-climatologist, atmospheric science provides those key foundational processes. The political geographer relies on work in political science and government. Geography may be criticized for its reliance on other disciplines, but I argue here that this contains the discipline’s key advantage – its interdisciplinary or integrative nature.
By suggesting geography is an integrative discipline, I am suggesting nothing novel. Geographers are well versed, both in word and in practice, the interdisciplinary nature of geography. G.K. Gilbert (1909) addressed the Association of American Geographers, discussing the value of “scientific trespass”. Baerwald (2010) writes about geography’s inherently interdisciplinary nature in his Presidential Address published in the Annals of the Association of American Geographers. Baerwald (2010) adds that integrating geography with concepts and skills from other relevant disciplines to address a relevant issue is “at the heart of geographic inquiry”. Furthermore, Baerwald (2010) makes mention of transdisciplinary, whereby a common interpretation or understanding of a discipline is employed. In her Presidential Address, Gober (2000) “…challenges the discipline of geography to develop new intellectual habits that are open to new opportunities in disparate parts of the discipline…” Others have also addressed GIScience as a multidisciplinary field (Blaschke & Merschdorf, 2014; Goodchild, 2004). The discipline of geography is “well-positioned” to synthesize the natural, physical, social sciences, and humanities (Gober, 2000).
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of geography’s interdisciplinary nature and inherent integrative strengths for incorporation into the undergraduate environmental science curriculum at higher education institutions. I share my teaching experiences as a physical geographer working in a non-geography environmental science department. I place emphasis on my own teaching and research interests in weather and climate hazards. It should be noted, however, that these fields are simply mediums to discuss the issue at hand and could very easily be interchanged with other fields. The reader is encouraged to reflect on how their own interests could facilitate integrating geography into non-geography curricula. I also note that geography here is intended to mean applied geography as discussed by Pacione (1999) with its emphasis on applying spatial knowledge and skills to solving social, economic, and environmental issues.