Geography
is fast becoming a lucrative and diverse field with job opportunities in careers
ranging from health care to forestry, said a panel of experts Wednesday.
A lot
of the growth in the geography field is the result of a fairly new technology
called Geographic Information Systems.
"Geographic
Information Systems is about taking all the data we used to put in paper maps
and putting it in computer databases," said Harvey Miller, professor
of geography. "We can capture, store, analyze and communicate information
about literally anything that takes place on or near the surface of the earth."
The
U.S. Department of Labor referred to geotechnology as one of the three most
important emerging and evolving fields, along with nanotechnology and biotechnology.
"The
message we're trying to send is that it's not your father's geography anymore,"
Miller said.
Along
with the technological advances comes a diversity of fields.
Health care, psychology, climate, politics, forest
management, private companies and marketing all use GIS to help them know
what's going on in the area they cover.
"Just about everything has a geographic component to
it. Crime takes place somewhere and products are sold somewhere," said
Dave Doepner, a crime analyst for the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Doepner
uses geography to map out areas of high crime. The department can then use
this information to place officers where they will be the most effective.
Paul
Maus and Tony Guay, two members of the geography job panel, work in a kind
of "geography firm" that hires out their mapping services to the
United States Forest Service.
The
firm does everything from mapping fires to tracking endangered species and
vegetation patterns. The geographers then interpret this data and tell the
U.S. Forest Service what they can expect in the upcoming years.
The
variety of job options attracts students to become geography majors.
"I've
always had a very wide range of interests, and geography fits this because
it can be applied to almost any subject," said Tim Edgar, graduate
student advisory committee chairperson and organizer of the Geography Day
events.
Student Melissa Jones said she liked the discussion because "it's
helpful to learn what kinds of skills are applicable in a wide range of fields
so you can get a skill base that is transferable to whatever you are interested
in."
The
geography department has about 75 undergraduate students and only 30 graduate
students. This makes it a small, student-friendly department.
"There
is a smaller scholarship pool. It's just a small department. I know all my
professors on a first-name basis. I have the opportunity to do directed readings
and independent study that I didn't get to do in humanities," said Sara
Howe, a geography student.
Students
interested in geography careers can look for different job opportunities.
"There
are a lot of opportunities out there and not very many people apply for them,"
said Katrina Moser, assistant professor of geography.
ccallister@chronicle.utah.edu
Reference:
Callister. (2004). Get
Rich with a geography degree. The Daily Utah Chronicle.