Alexander von Humboldt
His work laid the foundation for the science of biogeography. He was the first person to develop the idea that weather patterns, geology, and biology all played a part in determining which plants and animals were capable of thriving in which areas.
Geography is a living, breathing subject, constantly adapting itself to change. It is dynamic and relevant. So many of the world's current issues – at a global scale and locally - boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them. It is a subject that helps young people into work. Many employers prize the knowledge and skills that studying geography can provide and geography in higher education is thriving. Geography students are among those gaining greatest satisfaction from their studies, and geography graduates have a high level of employment. It's no wonder there is a growing demand to study the subject.
Be a geographer...
Eratosthenes
The man who invented the term "Geography"
geo meaning "the earth" and graphein meaning "to write." He is noted for devising the system of latitude and longitude, for being the first known to have calculated the size of the Earth and preparing one of the earliest maps of the known world.
Muhammad al Idrisi
Famous Muslim geographer who travelled the world (was even in York for a while). Created the most accurate maps of the world at the time and inspired explorers such as Vasco de Gama and Columbus.
Gerard Mercator
Famous cartographer in the 16th Century. Created the map projection that we see today. He also created the term atlas for a collection of maps and became the best globe maker of his time.
Ernest Shackleton
Earned a Knighthood, CBE and CVO for his exploration of the world. Led expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic but was usually outshone by Robert Scott & Roald Amundsen. However, he had true leadership qualities and was widely respected for his determination to open up the world for people. 'The Boss' as he was known to colleagues also spent over a year leading his team to safety after they were stranded in Antarctica.
PASSIONATE PEOPLE
Join Our Team
Carl Ritter
The modern father of geography, he was the first to explore the ideas that human actions interact with the physical environment and vice versa. Influential in making people see geography as real and not just a theory. In his view, Geography is a major science and 'an anatomy of the Earth.'
Study Geography at G.C.S.E.
see Mr Griffiths or Mr McNally for more details
John Muir
John Muir was born in Dunbar near Edinburgh. His family moved to the USA and he went to live in California. He was worried about the damage being done to the environment and was very interested in conservation. His work led to the US Congress setting up the first ever National Park at Yellowstone. John Muir spent his whole life working to protect the environment for future generations and students can now earn a conservation award named after him.
