A woman wearing a face covering stands in a grassy area with trees and mountains in the background

FEATURE

They seek to explain how the people and places on our planet are intricately connected. Their work impacts how we stay healthy, interact with water, and remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. They seek knowledge of how climate change is affecting the natural world and share the know-how that is driving tools like geospatial technology. These stories represent just a fraction of the great work that is happening in the Department of Geography and in collaborations across the university when we put the planet — and our relationship with its places — front and center.

Warmer mountaintops, wetter coasts

Lynn Resler (pictured at top) and Anamaria Bukvic investigate how climate change affects both the natural world and the communities where we live.

OCTOBER 1, 2020 - Professor Anamaria Bukvic poses for a portrait at the Duck Pond.

A woman wearing a face covering and holding a portfolio stands next to a pond with trees in the background

The human dimensions of water

Luke Juran researches disaster impacts abroad and brings water science home to Virginia.

A man wearing a face covering stands in a large mowed field with trees and mountains in the distance

Tick maps: Merging epidemiological data with technology

Korine Kolivras applies geographical expertise and geospatial tools to study the spread of Lyme disease.

A woman wearing a face covering standing with her arms crossed in a grassy area with trees in the background

Opening the door to geospatial technology

Santosh Rijal introduces students from an array of majors to geographic information science.

A man wearing a face covering kneels on one knee in a wooded area while holding a small technical instrument (handheld spectroradiometer)