Department of Geography, University of Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Department of Geography

Established	1888 (1888)
Head of Department	Professor Mike Hulme
Location	Cambridge , United Kingdom 52°12′06″N 0°07′25″E / 52.2018°N 0.1236°E / 52.2018; 0.1236 (Department of Geography, University of Cambridge)

The Department of Geography is a part of the famous University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. It is located on the Downing Site in Cambridge. This department is where students learn all about geography, from how our planet works to how people live in different places.

History of Geography at Cambridge

The study of geography has a long history at Cambridge University. The first teacher for geography was appointed in 1888. Back then, students could earn a special diploma in geography.

In 1919, the university created the Geographical Tripos. This is a special set of exams for students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in geography. In 1931, the department got its first professor. Two years later, in 1933, the department moved into its own building.

This building was made bigger in the 1930s with new classrooms and labs. In the 1980s, another floor was added. This new floor had a lab for computers, remote sensing, and geographical information systems. Remote sensing uses satellites and aircraft to gather information about Earth. Geographical information systems (GIS) are computer tools for mapping and analyzing data.

In 1999, the department grew even more. It took over two floors in a nearby building. These new spaces included more labs, meeting rooms, and offices.

Later, the Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure (CAMPOP) joined the department in 2001. This group studies how populations and societies have changed over time. In 2002, the Scott Polar Research Institute became a sub-department. Today, the department has many expert staff, including professors and readers.

What They Research

The Scott Polar Research Institute, which is part of the Department of Geography.

The Department of Geography does a lot of important research. Their work is organized into different groups, each focusing on a specific area of geography.

Here are some of the main research groups:

• Vital Geographies: This group studies how people and places are connected, focusing on things like health and well-being.
• Infrastructural Geographies: They look at how things like roads, power grids, and communication networks shape our world.
• Geographies of Knowledge: This group explores how knowledge is created, shared, and used in different places.
• Biogeography and Biogeomorphology: These scientists study how living things (plants and animals) are spread across the Earth. They also look at how living things and Earth's surface features interact.
• Climate and Environmental Dynamics: This group researches changes in climate and how our environment is changing.
• Glaciology and Glacial Geology: They study glaciers (large masses of ice) and the landforms created by ice.

Famous People from the Department

Many talented people have studied or worked at the Department of Geography. These individuals have gone on to do amazing things in geography and other fields.

One very famous person is David Harvey. He is known as one of the most important geographers in the world. He even won a major international geography award called the Lauréat Prix International de Géographie Vautrin Lud.

Here are some other notable alumni and staff:

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  Richard Chorley, a key figure in using numbers and data in geography.
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  Frank Debenham, the first leader of the Scott Polar Research Institute.
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  Sir Peter Hall, a famous expert in city planning.
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  David Harvey, a world-renowned geographer.
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  Sir James Wordie, a Scottish explorer of the polar regions and a geologist.