SPACE, TIME AND THE HUMAN-BEING

Contemporary geography has two major components - physical and human - often studied in relation to one another. Physical geographic researc h is generally conducted within the Newtonian paradigm, while recogniz ing computational limits leading ultimately to chaotic non-predictabil ity. In contrast, human geographic research has many paradigmic perspe ctives, ranging from highly quantitative and theoretical stances to st rongly humanistic concerns. Many of these are reflected in the technic al and philosophical currents informing research in cartography. Geogr aphic research today is characterized by openness to adjacent fields. Humanistically informed research is strongly affected by postmodern tr ends in literacy theory, cultural studies and intellectual history, wh ile injury in the social scientific tradition connects closely to adva nces in statistical and mathematical modelling. Most research, no matt er what the informing perspective, brings a distinctly spatial viewpoi nt to bear on topics also approached by others. It is this distinctive geographic awareness of place, defined in relation to structured spac es, that forms the core of the research contribution. In a resurgence of 'spatio-temporal' awareness, geographic education has a vital role to play in environmental and planning areas.