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Geographers

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

What you’d do

  • Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
  • Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
  • Teach geography.
  • Write and present reports of research findings.
  • Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
  • Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
  • Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
  • Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.

Skills that matter

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Active Learning

How to get there

Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

Also called

  • Earth Observations Scientist
  • Geographer
  • GIS Coordinator (Geographic Information Systems Coordinator)
  • GIS Geographer (Geographic Information Systems Geographer)
  • GIS Physical Scientist (Geographic Information Systems Physical Scientist)
  • Scientist

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