the skeleton in my closet is from the paleocene

Robin Hounsell's blog for W21 GEOG*2260: Applied Human Geography at the University of Guelph

[amfgeog2260]

A Glimpse of the Semester...

Everyone always says how fast semesters go once they get going, and it’s true once again! It is crazy to think that we are already writing our final blog posts for this class, and it feels like last week that I was creating my first Tumblr account and following all of my classmates who I did not know anything about. I am not sure whether it is the format, the class, or the layout of our discussions but it feels as if this semester has had some of the most engaging and interesting discussions while I have been at university. I find it difficult to take a whole semester of readings, course content, assignments, and discussions with peers, and pack it into a relatively small blog post… but I am going to do my best! 

3 Things I Know About Human Geographic Research

1. The first thing I can say I know about human geography, is more broadly what it is, and how qualitative methods of human geography are used in human geography. The first chapter of the textbook does a really good job at outlining from the beginning what it is, and how its complexity and open-endedness can be used. What I mean by that is exactly what the textbook says, that qualitative methods in human geography are concerned with “elucidating human environments and human experiences” (Hay 2016, p. 5). Fundamentally, all of the analysis, research, interpretation, and methods employed by qualitative human geographic investigators circles back to the goal of answering questions related to social structures and or individual experiences (Hay 2016, p. 5). At the beginning of the course, this idea of tackling both structural macro questions/issues along with individual experience or micro issues was hard for me to conceptualize. At this point I have a better understanding of the goal of qualitative research, human geography, and the methods employed to find answers about social and human behaviour. 

2. I mentioned the breadth of human geography in my first point, which leads me to the second thing I know about human geography. I know now how much is captured in the term human geography, or human geographic research. Not only was the idea of human geography not clear to me, but the ideas and sub-topics of human geography were not either. From the textbook readings, weekly course content, and our newest Digital Storytelling Project, some of the most prominent subtopics of human geography have become more clear to me. We have all taken a different approach and topic in our group projects; from social, cultural, economic, political, health, environment, and the list goes on (Hooykaas 2021). These are only a few subtopics, and the important thing I realize now is that human geography is everywhere we look, and it matters in order to find answers and ask more questions about the world we live in! 

3. Since the topic of human geography is so broad and all-encompassing, I now know how important and diverse the use of research, knowledge, and analysis can be in the real-world with the help of human geography. The specific example from this course that allowed me to value knowledge, analysis, reflection and research most was the way we can use it to break down social barriers of knowledge. Using cross-cultural research methods, ethics, and relationships, we can impact more inclusive research methods and break down previously colonial ways of understanding knowledge (Hay 2016, p. 45). Specifically from chapter 4, we gained an appreciation and understanding of the way colonial values and power shaped our understanding of the validity of knowledge (Hay 2016, p. 76). Using different, and equally valuable knowledge like feminist and indigenous approaches to research in geography can not only further our research in human geography, but can keep strong subjectivity and equal value in different kinds of knowledge, from people, cultures and places around the world (Hay 2016, p. 85). 

3 Things I Am Confused By

1. I am still confused by concepts about Foucaldian Discourse Analysis in chapter 14. This might be too narrow of a topic to take for this blog, but the idea of discourse analysis still does not seem to make complete sense to me. I understand Gordon Waitt explains it as an “interpretive approach in geography… used to make sense of the world within particular social and temporal contexts” (Hay 2016, p. 288). This still teams like too large of a definition, or unspecific an explanation to make sense to me, or make me understand that it is in fact important and integral to the way we see the social structures we live in. 

2. The second thing I am confused by still is in that discussion about the broad topic of human geography. I know it relates to most, if not every thing in our social and physical lives, but when is it not human geography? That may seem unclear as a question, but it seems confusing to me to try and place human geography within a boundary. Every topic or research method has parameters in which it focuses, but this seems like such a broad idea that I am not sure I can wrap my head around what is and what isn’t human geography, if it actually relates to everything. 

3. The last thing that is considerably still confusing to me is the idea of universal objectivity and situated knowledges. We read about these topics in chapter 19, and I still am having a hard time understanding them individually and how they exist together. Situated knowledges is explained in the text as one of the most useful approaches to “contest universalist forms of knowledge” (Hay 2016, p. 400). This idea however, still gives me a hard time to fully understand it.

3 Things I Know About Myself as Human Geographic Researcher

1. I can’t assume that I am a human geographic researcher now, and that my road to learning, analyzing, research, reflecting, and creating is done just because this course is coming to an end. I can however, distinguish the very few things I know about myself so far, as a human geographic researcher. The first is that I know I won’t place inherent value on a specific type of research or knowledge. I mentioned it earlier briefly, but I feel that the impacts from assuming a type of knowledge or method of research is “correct” compared to another is problematic, and has the power to perpetuate age old colonial values. I know I will use the skills I have learned and will continue to learn, to provide reflection and knowledge of my own, while never discounting or taking for granted the knowledge of others. 

2. Secondly, I know I am a people person. I have known this for a while, but specific to human geographic research, I will always feel more confident and comfortable having discussion, reflection, or doing research in groups, or with others rather than alone. I found that although it was a lot of fun too, this blog post forum made this class a lot more enjoyable and gave me an environment to discuss and reflect with others! This comment goes along with now knowing the power of critical reflexivity in research and discussions, and to not discount the value of discussion with peer researchers, interviewees, or during the research process. 

3. The final thing I have learned about myself as a human geographic researcher is my interest in qualitative methods of human geography, over quantitative ones. Although I understand the importance of having both, I much prefer the use and methods in qualitative research rather than quantitative. This ties into my interest in group work and working with people, instead of numbers. Asking questions, making inquiries, participants in research, and listening to the stories of people (Hay 2016, p. 117-120) is what I find most interesting and appealing about this type of research method.                                                                                                                                                              

3 Things I Need To Spend Time On 

1. Having expressed my interest for qualitative methods of human geographic research, I need to start focusing and learning more about quantitative methods. I think its important to have a wholistic view and understanding of human geography, and I can’t do that if I isolate myself from an entire side of geographic research. I understand that this textbook is aimed directly at qualitative methods, however, there are lessons from quantitative research that can be used in qualitative research as well. Organizing, analyzing, coding, and surveys all can be used (as seen in chapter 18) as a means of communicating and interpreting qualitative research (Hay 2016, p. 373). Yet, these are different skills than interviewing, listening, or reflecting on the very typical qualitative methods of research. I need to spend time on the things that don’t come to me as easily, or interest me as much, to give myself a general confidence in human geographic research. 

2. The second area of human geography I need to more fully appreciate and understand is the value in historical perspectives and accounts and research. I find myself interested in human geographic research now, and interested in the future of social structures and individuals. Historical geography and reflecting on the past seemed boring or unproductive to me. I discredited the research that can be done contemporarily, based on the history of social identities, and not just solely focusing on the research that has yet to be done or discovered. This specific need relates to chapter 11, when Roche discusses historical research and “archival sources” (Hay 2016, p. 226). Michael Roche even discusses interest he has had in the past “30 years of being a historical geographer (Hay 2016, p. 225). There is something here I have yet to find interest in, but again, in order to further my skills and my full research potential, this is a crucial part of human geography I need to spend more time on.

3. Lastly, I find myself rushing to get answers or skipping ahead to find the ultimate “research findings” when I am reading, or even trying to do research of my own. I need to work on my patience as a researcher, and not be so set on finding a single concluding answer in research. Instead, I need to assume that the process of research and analysis is the answer, and that the answers will appear sometimes in the wait or in the depths of research. Finding definitive answers is exciting, but especially in a field as broad and open as human geography, I need to build my ability to reflect on and analyze answers that come from the research process. 

I hope this small amount of information has given you all a glimpse into my perceptions of the course, and my own learning along with it. I truly did not know the importance of human geography, qualitative research, or its actual application in the real world. I have really enjoyed being a part of this class and sharing blogs with one another every week! I hope you all have had a similarly educational, interesting, and engaging semester in this blog forum. All the best to everyone this summer!

References 

Hay, I. (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography. Fourth ed., Oxford.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/668082/viewContent/2730478/View

[rhgeog2260]

Hi there!

I 100% agree with you that semesters always seem to fly by! I find they trudge along until the first midterm/assessment, and then after that it all becomes a blur!

I also agree with you in that, despite this semester being completely online, I feel that this is the most I have ever interacted with my university peers.

I am amazed with how self-reflective you are - ironically a very important part of human geography research! You are very aware of what you need to work on, as well as what you are curious about. I think this is a very crucial quality that not enough people possess anymore, so good on you! That will certainly help you no matter what career direction you go in.

You seem to have an amazing comprehension of the subfield of human geography! Do you plan on working in this field in the future?

Finally, if you do not plan on working specifically in the field of human geography, how will you employ the things you have learned in this course to your job? What do you think is the single most important thing we have learned that we can all take with us?

It was a pleasure working with you this semester! I hope you stay well, both health-wise and in your studies :)

Your peer, Robin Hounsell

[jmageo2260-deactivated20210621]

GEOG 2260 Final Post

I have taken several courses throughout high school and university where I learned about quantitative data. Quantitative research is about numbers. And what I found interesting in this course is that qualitative research is often about the opinions, thoughts and feelings of a respondent; to explain people and their relationship to places (Hay, 2016, Chapter 1). 

These Three Things I know for certain about human geography research: 

One thing I know for certain is how to ensure the rigour of the research process through triangulation. According to Hooykaas (2021), this means that “we are looking at multiply ways of getting to the answer.” Triangulation would be applied to various stages of the research process. It is essential to look at different sources, check your research process and methods, speak to multiple researchers and verify the information you collected. This adds validity to your entire research project. 

Another thing I know for certain is the concept of research ethics. The implementation of fundamental ethical principles into one’s research is extremely important. These include, but are not limited to, applying moral rules and codes into collecting and analyzing the research subjects and accepting the person’s right to privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. Taking the CORE (Course on Research Ethics) Tutorial involving humans taught me a lot about this topic. 

 One topic I thoroughly enjoyed is the idea of coding. All of us have used a highlighter to identify valuable and important information. Categorizing codes according to a coding framework is not something I have learned before. It is an effective way to organize data. This can be achieved through deductive coding, when you have a set of predefined themes that will be applied, or inductive coding when you are not sure yet how to organize your data and create codes that will cover data in the article. 

The things I am still confused by? 

While I feel I grasped most of the concepts taught in this course, there are some things I think I could strengthen that would benefit me as a human geographer. One notion that I personally struggled with was critical reflexivity. “Reflexivity,” as defined by Kim England (1994), “is a process of constant, self-conscious scrutiny of the self as a researcher and of the research process” (Hay, pg. 34). Critical reflexivity can be a complex concept to grasp when entering the world of qualitative research. As Hooykaas (2021) stated, the difficulty with it is that I am not used to scrutinizing my own engagement with my work. I understand that it is important that I have an awareness, as a researcher, of how I may be influencing the research process or subject. 

Another topic I feel I could’ve done a better job at grasping is grounded theory. This methodology is primarily used in qualitative research and involves forming hypotheses by collecting and analyzing data. I did some outside research to understand the concept and came across the explanation that it is a theory that is grounded in the voices of those studies. 

 While I have enjoyed coding, I was confused by the concept of cognitive bias and definitional drift in the coding process. Hooykaas (2021) defines that it “occurs when the beginning of the data set is coded differently than the material coded later.” I understand that by coding your data just with words, each researcher’s definition of what that word describes could vary and may not be directly related to what we are actually trying to research. 

These three things I know for certain about me as a human geographic researcher 

Firstly, I know that I am a more extroverted person and that I work well with other people instead of working by myself. Being in a group brings new and different ideas to the table, allowing for a better discussion of ideas. Working as a group for our presentation made it easier to cover a broader range of topics. Additionally, receiving and giving feedback to our blog post allowed me to relate to the course concept on a deeper level. The interaction of humans and the environment is a multidisciplinary subject matter. According to Hay (2015), “Contemporary human geographers study places, people, bodies, discourses, silenced voices, and fragmented landscapes." 

As a human geographer, I will have many real-world situations to apply my knowledge to find out why and how events occur, how human culture interacts with their natural environment, and how locations can impact people. I also know that I am required to develop strong analytical and writing skills. This course has introduced me to many essential basic skills of performing qualitative research, including conducting an interview, collecting qualitative data, and applying research and analytical methods. 

 As a human researcher, I know that there are many types of qualitative research. Ethnography is an interesting type to me. The interaction and connection on a deeper level with people from other backgrounds and cultures while immersing yourself in their community is highly fascinating to me. In the future, I can apply my knowledge gained in GEOG 2260 and apply it to geographical problems and issues such as how human activity affects the environment and how the environment affects humans. Human Geography is crucial as it draws together many strands to understand the world today. 

These Three Areas I need to spend time developing/learning to feel more confident in my skills. 

One skill I could spend more time developing is my research skills. For our Digital Storybook Assignment, we were required to include six peer-reviewed journal articles as well as four other sources of information that were trustworthy. This is an area that I need to spend more time on. For the most part, while it is easy to find peer-reviewed journal articles, they are often precise in a topic and are often written using complex language due to the subject matter. The difficulty with other sources of information is trying to assess the credibility of such. Not all sources are reliable, and it is vital for me as the researcher to critically evaluate, make sure the information is current, does the author have credentials and is the website reputable and non-biased. 

I need to spend more time developing is my interview skills. Interviews are an excellent method of gaining access to information about events, opinions, and experiences. Opinions and experiences vary enormously among people of different class, ethnicity, age, and sexuality (Hay, 150). It is important to be adequately prepared for the interview. Even though I was able to expand my knowledge on different types of interviewing, it is an area that I can develop further as I progress as a human geographer. 

Last but not least, a skill that I need to spend more time developing is to feel more confident when analyzing surveys. There are many different ways data can be presented and various methods to explore it. It is crucial to analyze to form a conclusion based on that analysis properly. Surveys, where the data collected is ordinal, categorical, interval or ratio, can often be analyzed electronically. Surveys with open-ended questions get more complicated to interpret. 

 Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. 

 Hooykaas, A. (2021). Lecture Notes from GEOG2260- Applied Human Geography.

[rhgeog2260]

Hey there!

I can’t believe the semester is almost over. We have all learned so much!

I completely agree with you that qualitative data is a unique method of research. People tend to believe numbers - they say they are “hard facts”. But why can vocal opinions backed by research not be fact too?

I also agree that while coding was helpful and new, it was daunting to learn in Week 8. I’m a very visual-tactile learner, so learning this new skill via online delivery was a little rough for me. 

I think a lot of people have probably learned a lot about themselves during this semester, both from this course and from our global circumstances in general! While I am normally introverted, it was a pleasure to work with my peers on the Digital Storytelling project, as well as with these blogs. In a time where we cannot exactly see our peers in an ideal way, it was definitely refreshing to have ample opportunities to work together and connect as students again!

Finally, I think it is great that you want to boost your confidence when it comes to research! I’m a firm believer that we can always improve, and you pointed out exactly that. 

I’ll leave you with a very general question...is human geography your favourite subfield? What do you plan on doing for a future career, and how will you implement this course into it?

It was a pleasure to work with you this semester!

Your peer, Robin Hounsell

[rhgeog2260]

The End of a Semester...

Introduction

Wow. This semester has been so topsy turvy - going through a pandemic with multiple lockdowns, online learning, the stress of the world around us...I applaud all of us for making it through this incredibly difficult time!

I want to note that, like some of my peers, I would not have picked to take this course had it not been required. I prefer physical and environmental geography over human geography, so naturally I was planning on going in a different direction. I am now so grateful that I took this course!!! One of my career aspirations is to work with National Geographic, and it has now been made clear to me how vital it is to learn the intricacies of research and its methods/techniques. As someone who would rather do field work than a desk job, I am excited to one day apply all my new knowledge in research to the field I plan to work in!

Three things I know for certain about human geography research:

There are three things that stick out in my mind when I reflect back on what I have learned in this course. 

First, the concept of the “visible backpack” has stuck with me. Not only while working through this course work, but also work for other courses, while watching documentaries for my own entertainment, and maybe most importantly in this day and age, when watching stories on the news. As we have learned in Week 3, the “invisible backpack” takes into account all the features of the researcher, including ethnicity, gender, background, and more. These factors can greatly affect the manner in which data is perceived. An example I think of often is the wealthy, young men who interviewed Agafia in the Serbian wilderness. With their backpacks, they could not have possibly fully understood all that Agafia went through, and continues to go through today. This is an important reminder that all research has room for potential error or bias, depending on the exact situation. This allows me to reserve all judgement, and try to see things from all angles before forming an opinion. The invisible backpack can also relate to critical reflectivity.

Secondly, the importance of ethical research has been thoroughly engrained in me through this course. In my opinion, data obtained in an unethical way should be seen as null and void. It can be as simple as asking for someone to make a statement, or as complex as invading a prohibited area to try and fetch data (think of the man trying to preach Christianity to the native people of the Sentinelese island, subsequently getting killed - though this is not exactly a research incident, it is very prominently unethical). Entire research projects can be rendered invalid if the proper ethics are not followed, so I am thankful that this subject was taught and emphasized so much during this course. 

Finally, Professor Hooykaas taught us in a way that really engrained the importance of verifying and evaluating sources into our minds. I have been reminded that sources cannot just be blindly trusted - they must be critically evaluated, just like the article itself. 

Three things I am still confused by:

The Week 8 activity of coding was certainly challenging at first. While once completed I see the appeal of the organizational technique, it was intimidating to begin, and I quite honestly dreaded that week’s blogging activity. After completion, however, it was very beneficial when narrowing down topics for my Digital Storytelling Project!

Second, I am unsure how to overcome the invisible backpack. No matter who the researcher is, they are not identical to their subject, and cannot fully comprehend their views. I am curious to learn more about how to overcome this and avoid any possible complications that may arise.

Lastly, I am still slightly uncertain about “when enough is enough”. When, while performing research, have you obtained enough data without simultaneously having too much information? I feel this may be remedied by experience. 

Three things I know for certain about me as a human geographic researcher:

Firstly, while I know I would like to pursue research in my career, I now know that there are fields that interest me more than human geography. While no doubt interesting, I now know for sure that my interests lie in the more physical/environmental sides of geography. 

Second, I know that I can approach research situations with an open mind. I am confident that I can avoid any foreseeable biases in order to have the highest quality outcome possible. 

Finally, I feel that I could employ research in a way that has an overall positive impact on the world. Following ethics and my own morals, I know I can conduct research that holds importance in the betterment of our environment. 

Three areas I need to spend time developing/learning in order to feel more confident in my skills:

As I mentioned above, I would like to get a sense of familiarity to determine when the amount of research I have done has become too much. I of course want to have all the information, but it still must be conveyed in a digestible manner.

Second, I would like to practice with what types of interview questions are the most beneficial, and what types of questions to ask per scenario. Knowing that will save some stress, help narrow down specific questions, and yield specific results that pertain more closely to the goal in question. 

Finally, I would like to develop my skills as a student more. Transitioning to online learning was certainly challenging. By taking this course, I can more qualitatively reflect in on myself and the world around me.

Conclusion

Thank you to all my peers who interacted with my blog this semester! It was a unique way to connect with you all - especially in a remote setting! Be sure to reach out at any time :)

Your peer, Robin Hounsell

References:

Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.  

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Lecture Notes from GEOG2260- Applied Human Geography.

[rhgeog2260]

Why Do Whales Beach Themselves?

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/why-do-whales-beach-themselves

Key message

The article that caught my attention this past week is the National Geographic post titled “Why do whales beach themselves? We’re partially to blame”. This was written by Melissa Hobson, and published in the NatGeo journal on March 29, 2021. 

The article starts with a profound quote - “Every year thousands of whales, dolphins, and other marine animals wash up on beaches around the world. This phenomenon—called beaching or stranding—occurs among both healthy individuals as well as injured (or dead) animals that are driven ashore by prevailing winds.” 

Several potential answers are offered up by this article. First, topography - some areas of the ocean “trap” wildlife, including events such as tidal risings and lowerings. Second, natural causes - the article cites research that suggests that animals who are in pain, elderly, or otherwise compromised might not have the strength to fight against the currents, and allow themselves to wash up naturally. 

Finally, human causes are explored. One example includes noisy oceans from naval travel, which can effect marine mammal’s ability to echolocate, and futhermore making them unable to equalize their ears while diving. Pollution is of course explored as well - chemical traces in water can affect an animal as much as physical plastic. This leads some to beach themselves in the aforementioned method, as they are too sick to keep swimming. 

Sources   

Hobson references several professional organizations in this article. Sources include the Zoological Society of London’s Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit, and The British Diver’s Marine Life Rescue. These are experts in the field, who have hands on research experience. I am therefore comfortable saying that Validity and Authenticity is the main method used in this article, as we discussed in Week 9 of GEOG*2260 (Hooykaas, 2021).

Additionally, the textbook has taught us about legitimacy (Hay, 2016). Considering the sources are directly “on the front lines” of this issue (sometimes even SCUBA diving underwater to take part in the daily lives of these amazing creatures), I can confidently say that they are legitimate in nature. 

Consumer expectations

After reading this article, readers may be inclined to reflect on their personal contribution to both noise and physical pollution of the oceans. Personally, with my love of marine biology, I am intrigued by this beaching behaviour and am inclined to look further into the subject. 

References

Hay, Iain. Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography. Fourth ed., Oxford, 2016

Hobson, M. (2021, March 28). Why are whales beaching themselves? We’re partially to blame. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/why-do-whales-beach-themselves

Hooykaas, (2021). Week 9 and 10. GEOG2260, W21. University of Guelph.

[rhgeog2260]

GEGO*2260 HELPED ME REDISCOVER MY PASSION

I began in Geography with little to no idea of what I wanted to do with my future. I knew I loved natural systems, biology, history, etc., but I did not have an idea of what I wanted to pursue.

Thanks to the digital storytelling project, I have begun to hone in on where I would like to be post-grad. My subject, historical geography, reminded me how interested I am in the past. It made me remember that all through middle school I had goals to be an archaeologist. Upon further reflection, I noted I also wanted to work with animals - therefore, my current plan is to pursue a masters in paleontology!

I have always found prehistoric creatures extremely fascinating. After taking both evolution and vertebrate biology through the University of Guelph, I know I get excited by these weird creatures, whether they be from the Cambrian, Devonian, Triassic, etc.! I love digging up Earth's past, and look forward to this future of mine.

I have researched several masters programs all around the world, with the most promising one for me being in Edinburgh! I have a passion for travel, so doing this program abroad would be one of my goals.

Thanks to this course, and in particular our digital storytelling project, I have been able to reflect inward and rediscover my passion. These past few online semesters have been mentally challenging, and it can be easy to lose focus of the end goal. But when your courses help you plan ahead, you get to see some light at the end of the tunnel! Our university lives are certainly different from those who studied geography before us, but I'm sure this will only make us better!

[ahgeog2260-deactivated20211210]

Hi Robin!

I enjoyed reading your post and I like the GIF you added! I’m so happy for you that the digital storytelling project is proving to be useful for you and helping you rediscover your love for the past. I also love history, world history in particular but I do find historical geography intriguing from an environmental perspective! Sometimes, I wish I had pursued this passion through post-secondary but I have left it to be a hobby of mine instead.

You seem to show a good understanding of your fascination, which makes sense. Edinburgh! Wow! That sounds amazing. I have always wanted to do a semester abroad but fear I would miss home too much. That is a very exciting opportunity for you to one day be able to combine two passions, traveling, and paleontology.

Your conclusion resonates with me on a very personal level as I am in the third year of my studies and still am not sure of the path I wish to take post-grad.

A few questions for you…

Have you always been so interested in paleontology? Or is this something that you have recently decided to pursue because it combines your love of animals and history?

What separates the paleontology masters program in Edinburgh apart from other programs?

And the most important being….. what are your thoughts on the Jurassic Park series? (Choose your answer to this one wisely, I love them haha :))

Alyssa

[rhgeog2260]

Hey there Alyssa!

Thanks for your thoughtful comment! I’m glad I could reach you on a personal level.

To answer your first question - a mix of yes and no. I have always loved fossils, and while studying evolution and zoology the prehistoric animals were always what I cared about most. It more or less seems like the natural next step!

The difference between the Edinburgh program and other programs is that this is a Research Masters in Paleontology and Geobiology, so I can successfully transfer the knowledge I’ve gained from UofG to this program!

And finally, I’m a fan of Jurassic Park! The only issue I have with it is that many of the dinosaurs lived in completely different time periods from each other, ie. Stegosaurus in the Late Jurassic and T. Rex not until the Cretaceous. I’ve got a very soft spot for the raptors from Jurassic World though!

You mentioned you’re fond of world history! I therefore have a few questions for you in return :)

What is your favourite time and place, and why? I’m a big fan of Ancient Egypt! I absolutely love the architecture, the mathematical advancements they made, the mythology, everything!

If you were to do a semester abroad, where would you want to go? Before COVID hit, I was planning on spending my third year (my current year) in Sweden!

If you ever want to speak more about any of these topics, feel free to message me anytime!

Your peer, Robin

[rhgeog2260]

Coding Sources of Data for Historical Geography

As we have learned in this week's lecture, coding is an important and very helpful way of organizing data when conducting research. Going through a relevant article and highlighting key information is an excellent way of organizing your research, as well as breaking it down into essentials. 

The first source I am using today is an article from the online journal Making History. It is entitled simply "Historical geography", and is written by Mike Heffernan. Upon further research, I found out that Heffernan is a professor at the University of Nottingham, specializing in historical geography.

My second source is a section from the book Progress in Human Geography. The section is entitled "The relations between geography and history: work in historical geography in 1997".

The manner in which I have gone about this corresponds to inductive coding, because I started by reading the articles fully before forming my codes. I noted patterns and pieces of information that seemed very important to the research. The following are my codes:

"Cartography" -> highlighted in green

"Rome" / "Roman" -> highlighted in pink"

Landscape" -> highlighted in yellow

"Environment" -> highlighted in blue

I highlighted large segments containing my coding keywords in order to get context and background information. This is my first step in coding. I plan on coding more, narrowing down the details even further to aide in my project.

   I read through around 10 different articles before narrowing it down to the two I personally feel will help me the most with my Digital Storytelling Project. I thought about what codes I wanted to use carefully. My group, historical geography, is organizing our teachings in a manner that incorporates three unique case studies wherein historical geography is utilized. My case study revolves around ancient Rome, so I made sure to incorporate that in my codes as well. 

Since my two other partners are focusing on different case studies in the world of historical geography, it will be very beneficial to each of us to have done this preliminary research. Additionally, we now have good resources to help us answer fundamental questions, including “what is historical geography”.

I am eager to reconvene with my group and share our findings with each other. We have all expressed an interest in history, so diving deeper into the world that also connects us with geography is certainly exciting. Additionally, I am excited to share our research with the rest of my class peers, and teach everyone a bit more about geography in a historical context.

References:

 Ogborn, M. (1999). The relations between geography and history: work in historical geography in 1997. Progress in Human Geography, 23(1), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.1191/030913299672557598

Heffernan, M. (2008). Historical geography. Making History. https://archives.history.ac.uk/makinghistory/resources/articles/historical_geography.html

[rhgeog2260]

GEGO*2260 HELPED ME REDISCOVER MY PASSION

I began in Geography with little to no idea of what I wanted to do with my future. I knew I loved natural systems, biology, history, etc., but I did not have an idea of what I wanted to pursue.

Thanks to the digital storytelling project, I have begun to hone in on where I would like to be post-grad. My subject, historical geography, reminded me how interested I am in the past. It made me remember that all through middle school I had goals to be an archaeologist. Upon further reflection, I noted I also wanted to work with animals - therefore, my current plan is to pursue a masters in paleontology!

I have always found prehistoric creatures extremely fascinating. After taking both evolution and vertebrate biology through the University of Guelph, I know I get excited by these weird creatures, whether they be from the Cambrian, Devonian, Triassic, etc.! I love digging up Earth's past, and look forward to this future of mine.

I have researched several masters programs all around the world, with the most promising one for me being in Edinburgh! I have a passion for travel, so doing this program abroad would be one of my goals.

Thanks to this course, and in particular our digital storytelling project, I have been able to reflect inward and rediscover my passion. These past few online semesters have been mentally challenging, and it can be easy to lose focus of the end goal. But when your courses help you plan ahead, you get to see some light at the end of the tunnel! Our university lives are certainly different from those who studied geography before us, but I'm sure this will only make us better!

[rhgeog2260]

W. Cronon, a Key Thinker of Historical Geography

I will be interviewing William Cronon to get a better view into the exciting field of historical geography. Cronon’s official title is an environmental historian. He is  currently employed as a research professor in the fields of history, geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

I have chosen to interview Professor Cronon due to his expertise in environmental history, which is a large component of historical geography. He will likely be able to provide insight into the questions I have prepared for him, allowing me to gain an experts perspective. As a research professor in these three fields, he will have hands-on field experience that I currently do not possess. Additionally, since he is so well-versed in the aforementioned subjects, he will be able to help me (as well as my peers) bridge them all together and have a better understanding of geography as a whole. 

I will ask William Cronon the following 5 questions in order to further my understanding of environmental history, which will in turn aide me in my research and the creation of my eventual final project with my peers:

1. Why is it vital that we study the history of a particular environment? 

For my first question I wanted to be more broad. Dr Cronon’s response to this will be a good baseline as for why environmental history (and in turn historical geography) is just as essential as other geography subfields, if not more so. 

2. Do you think this field is understudied and/or overlooked, and if so, why?

In my second question, I will ask Dr Cronon his opinions on if/why this field is often forgotten about. With people often gravitating toward physical geography, human geography, economic geography, etc., we could be missing huge amounts of information about our past that have truly shaped the present. Understanding an experts opinion on why people sometimes dismiss this field will allow us to try and remedy it, and attempt to make it a more well-known form of geography. 

3. In your opinion, what is one of the most critical examples of the implementation of historical geography?

The goal of my third question is to aide my group in taking what we have studied and expanding it even further to other subjects. For our digital storytelling project, my group has selected three famous case studies to focus on. Hearing Dr Cronon’s thoughts on famous case studies will broaden our learning and help others see how common and widespread historical geography actually is. 

4. Would we be where we are today without the study of environmental history? In what ways have we furthered our human progress by studying this?

The goal of my fourth question is to obtain Dr Cronon’s personal opinion. With this information, we can once again solidify the intense importance of historical geography.

5. Finally, in your research what have you found is the most important takeaway when looking at environmental history or historical geography?

My final question for William Cronon is perhaps the most essential. As he is an expert in the field, I would be extremely interested in knowing what he feels is the most important thing to keep in mind when thinking about the environmental history aspect of historical geography. With this information, my peers and I will have a “goal” to focus on when creating our project, which will ensure that we do not deviate from our goals and adequately teach our classmates about the field. 

My best ally in formatting this interview has been the lecture slides for week 6 of this course. Following the structure/the diverse types of questions, I ensured I asked Dr Cronon a variety of questions to cover both his opinions and his professional research. I feel focusing on an expert’s ideas rather than specific examples will aide in growing my overall knowledge of the field, which will in turn make me a better, more open-minded researcher. 

References:

Hooykaas, A. (2021). GEOG2260 Week 6 Lecture material

The official homepage of William cronon. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2021, from https://www.williamcronon.net/

[kgeog2260]

Mitigation and Adaption Efforts Against Climate Change

When I think of conducting a research project with limitless resources, my immediate thought was the ability to put together a project that researched how climate change impacts different groups of people around the world, in terms of health, well-being, living conditions, etc. This has always been a topic of interest for me, as I find it fascinating that the impacts of climate change have caused such severe changes in some individuals lives, while there are others who don’t believe in it. In second year specifically, I did a research paper on how droughts in Ghana impacted single, divorced or widowed woman more than anyone else in the region, and ever since then I have always had the desire to be apart of a hand’s on research project to understand more about this topic and ways in which I can help.

Research in this field would best be conducted through qualitative research and time spent in these regions and accurate observations on various people’s lifestyles and the changes they have/will undergo with a changing environment/climate. I would most likely aim my research in places that have already undergone severe environmental changes, such as Bangladesh, or Kiribati. I would propose this project as a potential tool to a to further understand how individuals could potentially adapt to these changes while continue finding mitigation methods against climate change. I would also want to research the impacts of climate change in certain, more progressive regions in North America and Europe and compare how climate change affects different people with different incomes and living conditions.

I believe a variety of people would benefit from this research, especially since this issue is only becoming more prominent in our society. The development of adaption methods and tools is something that is unfortunately under a time crunch due to the rapid changes in some regions, i.e. Kiribati. By assessing the degree of severity and risk factors in different regions in comparison to other regions who potentially have already implemented adaptation methods or mitigation efforts, we can further apply this to different places and different groups of people in order to improve quality of life. I think this would especially benefit vulnerable individuals who have already been displaced or faced serious changes within their life due to impacts from climate change. These solutions could help individuals who rely on resources such as farming, to better cope and prepare for situations that arise from a changing climate in order to reduce the devasations of income and livelihood being destroyed.

I would want to keep this research as ethical as possible in order to ensure the group of people being observed feel as if they are actually receiving help and contributing to making sure we can eliminate future trouble caused by climate change. When working with vulnerable groups I believe ethics plays a major role in ensuring you, as a researcher, are actually helping individuals and improving areas in their life affected by climate change, rather than being invasive and doing more harm then good.

Overall, if this was a research project I took on 10 years from now I would aim to make living conditions with climate change much more adaptable for those who face the most risk and vulnerability. Do you believe we’ll ever reach the goal in which we can successfully apply mitigation and adaption efforts to reduce vulnerability from climate change?

[rhgeog2260]

Hey Karina!

Firstly, I think it is really admirable that you dream of taking on such a large issue. We have all heard endlessly about climate change, especially within Geography, so the fact that you would formulate your research project around this is very intriguing!

I think it is so fantastic to hear that you would do your research by travelling and staying in various locations, and truly seeing exactly how the quality of life of individuals is affected. Additionally, it seems like a great idea to begin with the very “worst” cases, such as that of Kiribati as you mentioned. 

I am wondering how you plan on keeping your research project as ethical as you are wanting - ie., what rules would you have in place? Perhaps one example rule could be related to the amount of researchers allowed on your team, in order to not overwhelm residents and potentially exacerbate resource usage.

Finally, to answer your question, I unfortunately have to be somewhat pessimistic. While I do of course hope that eventually we can mitigate climate change, I do not believe that this will happen in our lifetime. Perhaps our children or grandchildren will be able to continue our work and make the world a better, safer place. Just because we might not be able to accomplish it, however, does not mean we shouldn’t try our absolute hardest.

I hope one day you can pursue this project!

Your classmate, Robin :)

[rhgeog2260]

The Ocean’s Secrets: A Research Project

As some of you may know by now from my introduction, I have been extremely interested in Marine Biology my entire life. My dad SCUBA dove frequently before I was born, he hand-painted my nursery to appear as though you are underwater, and I was the “dolphin girl” at school. I spent my teen years sailing on a tall ship, and I now have a SCUBA license of my very own. Everything has pushed me towards marine biology - everything, that is, except for first year chemistry and physics. It is for that reason that I am now in Geography, with the hopes of eventually working in the field of Oceanography. 

Should I conduct research as a graduated student with unlimited resources, I would pursue the art of ocean floor mapping, with emphasis around shipwrecks. Ocean floor mapping is an early science - in fact, as of June 2020, only 5% of the ocean floor has been mapped (Amos, J., 2020)! This means that, extraordinarily, we know more about space than our own home planet. NASA states in a 2009 document, “we have better maps of the surface of Mars and the moon than we do the bottom of the ocean”. 

While many scientists may care about ocean floor mapping, I could guess that a good amount of those are not necessarily interested in mapping shipwrecks. I, however, feel this could be an exceptional tool in our historical development as a global population. With the implementation of marine archaeology, we could explore not only typical trade ships or lost freighters, but also vessels of ancient civilizations. From a historical geography perspective, we can learn a lot about the landscape of ancient civilizations based on where we locate their old boats. It is for this reason that I would propose this research project to a board of historians, most likely in Europe and Asia. 

Along with learning about the geographic landscape, finding these shipwrecks and mapping them could solve mysteries, create patterns, and more. For example, the infamous disappearance of Ernest Shackleton and his entire crew in Antarctica in 1912; or, for example, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in Additionally, patterns like the Bermuda Triangle - if many many wrecks can be pinpointed to a specific range of coordinates, that may inspire more work into the meteorological/climatological phenomena that occur in the area. This could make naval travel safer in the future. (Should you be interested in furthering your knowledge about Shackleton and the Endurance’s crew, or about Amelia Earhart, I recommend these links: https://www.history.com/news/shackleton-endurance-survival , https://www.biography.com/explorer/amelia-earhart )

As a humanity-driven individual, I truly would like to conduct this research purely for the potential of gaining knowledge and preventing future naval disasters. Additionally, as a lover of ALL sea creatures, big and small, I would ensure my research would be conducted in a manner that does not endanger the wildlife, including corals and vegetation. I feel I could implement my knowledge of GIS mapping systems, as well as my sailing experience, in order to facilitate my work. I also have a lot of experience with naval cartography working with charts, so in a way, I feel I would find oceanic mapping easier than land-based mapping. I recognize that I may, however, be wearing a set of metaphorical blinders - just because you love something does not make it easy. 

All in all, I think it is vital to research something you have a passion for to prevent your work from become a chore. Passion drives discovery, and discovery drives growth. If everyone pursued what they were curious and passionate about, I truly believe we could make some amazing advancements in the near future. 

PS, if anyone would ever like to talk about any of these subjects, I would be thrilled to discuss them :)

RESOURCES:

Amelia Earhart. (2020, August 20). Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/explorer/amelia-earhart

Amos, J. (2020, June 20). One-fifth of Earth's ocean floor is now mapped. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53119686

Dunbar, B. (n.d.). Oceans: The Great Unknown. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/oceans-the-great-unknown-58.html#:~:text=There were no satellites studying,about most of the ocean.

Mulvaney, K. (2020, October 21). The Stunning Survival Story of Ernest Shackleton and His Endurance Crew. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/shackleton-endurance-survival

[rhgeog2260]

The Taiga Frontier

invisible backpIn 1936, premonitions of war and a coming violent change were floating around in Russia. Religious Old Believers were in danger. It was during this year that Old Believer Karp Lykov moved his family into the Siberian mountains, into the treacherous biome of the taiga - a zone primarily filled with coniferous trees and lots of snow. This area became the home of the growing Lykov family, including the birth of Agafia in 1944. Her life had been gruelling - no contact with the outside world, an intense environment, and more. In fact, once during a food shortage, Agafia’s mother starved herself to death so that her 4 children could eat. When the Lykov family was contacted by geologists in 1978 after 40 years of isolation, they had not even known about World War II. With these researchers came a presumed disease which killed 3 of the 4 Lykov children, leaving only Agafia. She lived alone with her animals for another 25 years before the return of one of the geologists, Yerofei Sedov. Incidentally, their relationship does not seem to be a happy one, as Agafia has to do most things for him. Additionally, she finds some of his actions sinful.

There are several research methods that can be utilized in the field of human geography. In this case, I feel that the team that produced the documentary Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years utilized the emperical-analytical approach. In this approach, researchers were physically in the location, taking in experiences and interacting with their subject rather than “viewing from afar”. They absorb hands-on information as opposed to simply studying literature or a perceived reality. Additionally, the researchers in this case were able to actually form a relationship with their subject. They stayed with Agafia for several days and observed her daily habits. They got to take part in some of her daily activities, such as fetching firewood and cooking the (albeit little) food she had. This immersive experience is certainly beneficial in getting an “inside” perspective into the world you are trying to learn more about. Through talking directly with Agafia, the researchers have potentially learned more about life isolated in Siberia than they could should they had only read books and taken on information second-hand.

The “invisible backpack” taken on by these researchers is a way in which we can refer to their struggles in ascertaining accurate first-hand knowledge. For example, while Agafia gets around either by walking or on homemade skiis, the research team was able to fly in on a helicopter. Another factor would be the fact that Agafia wears homemade clothing, while the researchers are adequately bundled up. Agafia is 70 years old, and not only takes care of herself and her house, but takes care of her neighbour as well. I would personally say that the only point in which these researchers do not have an “invisible backpack” is that they slept in tents in the Siberian mountains, while she has her heated house (albeit probably heated only by a wood stove). Despite all this I felt the documentary team was fairly ethical in their filming. They silently observed Agafia while she practiced her faith, singing prayers and reading from centuries-old texts. They aided her with some of her daily activities that she would have otherwise had to perform herself, such as the exhaustive work of sawing down a tree. They seemed to ask as few questions as possible in order to allow her to speak freely, adding to the conversation or stopping it when needed.

Should I conduct this research on my own, I would personally immerse myself even deeper into Agafia’s life. As such, I mean that I would stay a longer time, in order to primarily make my own clothes as she has, learn and actively perform her daily chores, cook food with items readily available in the area, and perhaps even build my own temporary shelter to resemble that of Agafia’s. Overall, I would like to not just ask her about her daily life, but I would actually live her daily life. I would have some bias in that I have lived in a suburban area my whole life, so I would naturally find this experience more difficult in contrast. I would try to mitigate this bias by leaving behind things like cellphones and “first world comforts”, as well as staying there for a longer time period than three days, as mentioned before. In this case I would identify more as a “participant” than a researcher. 

Agafia Lykov could be considered very inspiring in the 21st century - as we disconnect further and further from reality and nature, this woman has no other choice than to connect so incredibly deeply to the world around her. While that world may not have many people in it, one could argue Agafia is better off for it.

Many people talk about living off the grid some day. Watching this documentary may inspire either hope or fear into those with this specific desire. While a nice cottage in the woods sounds idilic to some, Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness For 70 Years really shines a light onto the potential difficulties that come with living strictly off the land in modern times. 

[angeog2260]

Hi Robin,

I hope all is well with you! First of all, (as cliche as this sounds), your post was enjoyable to read, and I like the view you approached with this. I think Agafia and her story that she carries is truly inspiring and I think it would be a cool test to see if people like “us” (who are so fortunate to live with the resources we do and have the accessibility to basic services), could maintain and adapt to a northern life as Agafia does. Although sometimes it is nice to have someone live nearby, it is clear that she gets annoyed with Yerofei and often wishes she could have the privacy she had for the 40 years that the cabin remained undiscovered from civilization.

With the empirical-analytical approach, I believe that this allows the researchers to get to know her life and her as a person. It’s clear that she has the biggest heart and always remains optimistic (especially when faced with massive animals face to face). Personally speaking, I would learn from observing, getting to know her, and helping her with her daily tasks. I would maybe look to limit the amount of “interviews” that were conducted. The invisible backpack that you mentioned is very accurate, as they were extremely privileged, including the brand names on their clothing and bags. I think with the concept of the invisible backpack, it often happens that society forgets the weight that some people carry, and everyone’s life is truly different from the next.

Lastly, I liked the approach you took with how you would conduct the research. It stuck out to me when you said, “I would like to not just ask about her daily life, but I would actually live her daily life.” Have living/growing up in a suburban area, would you prepare before conducting this study (allowing yourself to get a feel for this lifestyle), and if so, how would you do that? Would you use some of the ethical concerns in this study to enhance your research?

Overall, very well done, and I agree with the points you highlighted in this case study! Agafia is truly an inspiration.

Cheers,

Amy

[rhgeog2260]

Hi Amy! 

Thanks for your thoughtful response!

Should I conduct my own research on Agafia, as you and I both mentioned, I would like to live her life. Growing up in a suburban area it would definitely be an adjustment, though I feel i personally may have a leg up on some other people - I spent 2 summers living on a tall ship, and there were times in the North Atlantic that we couldn’t see land for 9 straight days of sailing. Of course, we had a sizeable crew, so I was not completely isolated, but I feel I could get accustomed again to the lack of technology and outside communication rather quickly.

I also agree that I would not conduct these interviews, no matter how informal they were. I would simply allow her to speak her mind, and document her thoughts without the pressure of trying to answer a specific question. 

Thanks again for your response! I hope you’re staying well :)

Robin

[kgeog2260]

Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years

“Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years” documents the story of the Lykov family and their lifestyle secluded from civilization. Agafia Lykov is the youngest and only living member of the family, who was born into the isolated lifestyle in 1944 and continues to live in the mountains surviving off the land at 70 years old. The family moved to the remote environment in 1936 due to fear of persecution under the ruling of Stalin. The settlement made by the Lykov’s is located 160 miles from any other form of civilization, with the easiest method of access being by helicopter. The documentary is centered around Agafia and her way of life, especially on her last 25 years in the civilization without her family, as well as her ability to care for herself, and geologist Yerofei Sedov, on resources from the land alone.

           The research shown throughout the documentary is extremely hands on and investigative, but still uses an ethical and respectful approach. We follow VICE on their journey to visit Agafia and get a better understanding of her lifestyle. The specific method of research being used is qualitative, due to the fact that it is very analytical and uses an in-depth experience of the researchers to understand more about Agafia’s situation and background through firsthand interactions. The researchers even participate in Agafia’s daily chore routine to get a better understanding of her lifestyle and experience the amount of labour that is crucial for her and Yerofei’s survival.

           The invisible backpack is the metaphorical term used to define the difference in privileges between individuals. In this scenario, the reseachers have access to different and more modern tools in their daily lives that differ from Agafia’s. The researchers can use the helicopter for transportation, or their cells phones to connect with the outside world, unlike Agafia, who uses only the resources she needs to survive. Although the researchers were interacting with this way of life and participating in some of Agafia’s daily routine, their invisible backpacks don’t disappear due to the fact that it makes up their normalized way of life.

           If I was given my own opportunity to conduct research on this specific case study, I think I would do it in the exact same way as the VICE team. I found the documentary incredibly interesting due to the interaction of people who come from a modernized, capitalist way of life, interacting with someone on the opposite side of the spectrum. I believe the documentary told the incredible story of Agafia in a respectful and ethical manor, which would be the approach I would also take if I were the researcher. It would be extremely interesting to interact with Agafia and get a thorough understanding of the lifestyle from her perspective, especially considering how much time she spent alone.

Sources:

VICE. (2013). Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68&feature=emb_title

[rhgeog2260]

Hi Karina!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the methods of research conducted on Agafia’s secluded way of life. I agree completely with the invisible backpacks the researchers carry with them. Most of us have certain creature comforts, things that we “couldn’t live without”. This can include things like central heating, vehicles, even wifi! Should any of us be put in the position of Agafia’s father where we need to flee into the wilderness, I don’t know that we could have thrived the way that they did!

I would just like to note that the method of research conducted is called “empirical” research. This is exactly what you described - hands on, first person observations. Just a good term to have under your belt for the future! :) 

Do you think there were any flaws at all in the way the research was conducted? Myself, I feel that 3 days may not have been long enough, but this is a personal opinion for everyone! I’d love to hear if you would modify their methods at all!

Finally, do you feel we can approach human geography the same way with isolated individuals (such as Agafia or self-governed tribes) as we can with the “normal” population? I feel there might have to be a difference in the approach, but what do you think?

Your classmate, Robin :)

[rhgeog2260]

The Taiga Frontier

In 1936, premonitions of war and a coming violent change were floating around in Russia. Religious Old Believers were in danger. It was during this year that Old Believer Karp Lykov moved his family into the Siberian mountains, into the treacherous biome of the taiga - a zone primarily filled with coniferous trees and lots of snow. This area became the home of the growing Lykov family, including the birth of Agafia in 1944. Her life had been gruelling - no contact with the outside world, an intense environment, and more. In fact, once during a food shortage, Agafia’s mother starved herself to death so that her 4 children could eat. When the Lykov family was contacted by geologists in 1978 after 40 years of isolation, they had not even known about World War II. With these researchers came a presumed disease which killed 3 of the 4 Lykov children, leaving only Agafia. She lived alone with her animals for another 25 years before the return of one of the geologists, Yerofei Sedov. Incidentally, their relationship does not seem to be a happy one, as Agafia has to do most things for him. Additionally, she finds some of his actions sinful.

There are several research methods that can be utilized in the field of human geography. In this case, I feel that the team that produced the documentary Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years utilized the emperical-analytical approach. In this approach, researchers were physically in the location, taking in experiences and interacting with their subject rather than “viewing from afar”. They absorb hands-on information as opposed to simply studying literature or a perceived reality. Additionally, the researchers in this case were able to actually form a relationship with their subject. They stayed with Agafia for several days and observed her daily habits. They got to take part in some of her daily activities, such as fetching firewood and cooking the (albeit little) food she had. This immersive experience is certainly beneficial in getting an “inside” perspective into the world you are trying to learn more about. Through talking directly with Agafia, the researchers have potentially learned more about life isolated in Siberia than they could should they had only read books and taken on information second-hand.

The “invisible backpack” taken on by these researchers is a way in which we can refer to their struggles in ascertaining accurate first-hand knowledge. For example, while Agafia gets around either by walking or on homemade skiis, the research team was able to fly in on a helicopter. Another factor would be the fact that Agafia wears homemade clothing, while the researchers are adequately bundled up. Agafia is 70 years old, and not only takes care of herself and her house, but takes care of her neighbour as well. I would personally say that the only point in which these researchers do not have an “invisible backpack” is that they slept in tents in the Siberian mountains, while she has her heated house (albeit probably heated only by a wood stove). Despite all this I felt the documentary team was fairly ethical in their filming. They silently observed Agafia while she practiced her faith, singing prayers and reading from centuries-old texts. They aided her with some of her daily activities that she would have otherwise had to perform herself, such as the exhaustive work of sawing down a tree. They seemed to ask as few questions as possible in order to allow her to speak freely, adding to the conversation or stopping it when needed.

Should I conduct this research on my own, I would personally immerse myself even deeper into Agafia’s life. As such, I mean that I would stay a longer time, in order to primarily make my own clothes as she has, learn and actively perform her daily chores, cook food with items readily available in the area, and perhaps even build my own temporary shelter to resemble that of Agafia’s. Overall, I would like to not just ask her about her daily life, but I would actually live her daily life. I would have some bias in that I have lived in a suburban area my whole life, so I would naturally find this experience more difficult in contrast. I would try to mitigate this bias by leaving behind things like cellphones and “first world comforts”, as well as staying there for a longer time period than three days, as mentioned before. In this case I would identify more as a “participant” than a researcher. 

Agafia Lykov could be considered very inspiring in the 21st century - as we disconnect further and further from reality and nature, this woman has no other choice than to connect so incredibly deeply to the world around her. While that world may not have many people in it, one could argue Agafia is better off for it.

Many people talk about living off the grid some day. Watching this documentary may inspire either hope or fear into those with this specific desire. While a nice cottage in the woods sounds idilic to some, Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness For 70 Years really shines a light onto the potential difficulties that come with living strictly off the land in modern times. 

Sources:

VICE. (2013). Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68&feature=emb_title

[kmgeog2260]

Book Recommendation!

“Hi everyone! 

I recently read the book “This Changes Everything” written by Naomi Klein for another class of mine. It is an amazing commentary on capitalisms damage to the environment to explain climate change in ways I truly had never thought of before. For people interested in geography (physical or human,) or even just climate change in general I would absolutely recommend it. Here is a great passage that might spark your interest;

“ The victims in all this are regular people: the workers who lose their factory jobs in Juárez and Windsor; the workers who get the factory jobs in Shenzhen and Dhaka, jobs that are by this point so degraded that some employers install nets along the perimeters of roofs to catch employees when they jump, or where safety codes are so lax that workers are killed in the hundreds when buildings collapse. The victim’s are also the toddlers mouthing lead-laden toys; the Walmart employee expected to work over Thanksgiving holiday only to be trampled by a stampede of frenzied customers, while still not earning a living wage. And the Chinese villagers whose water is contaminated by one of those coal plants we use as our excuse for inaction, as well as the middle class of Beijing and Shanghai whose kids are forced to play inside because the air is so foul. ”  (Klein, chpt. 2)

It is people like Naomi that remind me why I study human geography and why it is so important. 

[amlgeog2260]

Climate Change: A Serial Killer in the Making

Kiribati is an island country that will be one of the first and most certainly not the last, victims of climate change. As things are going now, this beautiful and culturally significant piece of land will be uninhabited by the end of this century as it is slowly sinking below sea level. This is a country with no industry, and despite their tuna fishing practices, they have still managed to declare protected lands and set examples for the rest of the world for conservation and climate mitigation1. So why are they still at risk of extinction? Industry around the globe is not getting ahead of their emissions, and the impact of this is visible rises in water level, which threaten to erase places and communities like Kiribati.

If I were sent in to this island to research and potentially make change, I would first need to recognize the power dynamics at play in this situation. Firstly, it is important to note that Kiribati as a country has very little control over their own fate. Countries with high emissions can collectively save or destroy them, and it seems that most are unaware of the problem at hand anyway. Kiribati cannot control policy in other countries and so they must bargain or simply request for change to be made.  Secondly, I must look at the power I hold as a researcher. My home and culture have never once been threatened, and I have been given connections worldwide through my education that give me a platform even now.  As a researcher, the knowledge I receive and present could be used both directly to help Kiribati politically and indirectly through changed perceptions about the country2. I would not be able to be completely objective in my research because I am in the field of environmental policy and as such this is an issue I am passionate about. That being said, I would still need to be reflexive in the sense that I am constantly analyzing my position in the research and the impacts it may have on the outcome2. What I believe would work best here is intersubjectivity, because I can recognize my own bias while allowing for free communication of the people of the island on their own terms.

Since the task at hand is to mitigate the issues the peoples of the island are facing, I would like to conduct a case study on the cultural impacts that they will experience (and have already experienced) due to the rising water levels as well as a historical approach to better understand how they have faced the climate crisis so far. I would then bring this knowledge to an international organization such as the United Nations as a human rights issue, and request for the highest carbon emitting countries to pay reparations to Kiribati so that they may slow their sinking process through more advanced technology (both grey and green living infrastructure).

“The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have the facts and solutions. All we need to do is wake up and change.”

                                                                                       - Greta Thunberg

1. AJ+. (2014). Kiribati: The Sinking Islands Being Destroyed By Climate Change [Video file]. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7jXveokDY

2. Hooykaas, A. (2021). “Philosophy, Power, Politics, and Research.” University of Guelph

[rhgeog2260]

Hey Amber!

Thank you for your post. I found your title very accurate - bold and in-your-face, but accurate. I feel that climate change truly will become a “serial killer” within the coming decades.

I completely agree with youth thoughts about Kiribati not having their fate in their own hands. As a fairly industry-free nation (aside from the tuna fishing mentioned in the documentary), we can quickly and rather easily come to the conclusion that they (the Kiribati residents) are not to blame for this horrific phenomenon. 

I also agree with that you said about your power as a researcher. Our homeland has never been threatened by catastrophic events purely due to climate change, at least not to the degree of the islands of Kiribati, and it can therefore be difficult to put ourselves in the right perspective. I feel it is important to recognize that from our point of view it is injustice, while from their point of view it is really a matter of life and death, as well as a matter of being forced from their native land. 

You mentioned that one of the steps you would take in mitigating this disaster is to conduct a case study on the cultural impact of the rising sea levels. I find this interesting, and I am curious about what kind of research questions you would formulate about the issue? For example, were I to take this course of action, one of my questions may be “How will forced migration affect future Kiribati generations?”

Finally, I really enjoyed that you ended your post with a Greta Thunberg quote. She truly is so influential, even at such a young age. She inspires me to do more activism and take a step into the world of activism!

Your classmate, Robin :)

[rhgeog2260]

A Disappearing Nation

rIt is a long-repeated fact that should sea levels rise, many land masses will look very different within the next 100 years. Unbeknownst to many people, however, it is actively happening right in front of us. The South-Pacific Republic of Kiribati is effectively “sinking” into the ocean. Thanks to climate change, rising tides or “king tides” (AJ+, 2014) have already rendered some of the 33 total islands inhabitable, whether that be due to freshwater contamination, pollution wash-up, or being altogether underwater. In order to even begin trying to help out Kiribati, one will need to take into account the basic foundational principles of human geography.

The power dynamic between the small island nation and the rest of the world is perhaps the most critical key to their survival. While industrial countries have the power of either harming or healing the world with their amount of carbon emissions, Kiribati does not have any power plants or large industries contributing to their demise. These countries could be directly powerful in reducing their emissions, as well as offering a safe place for populations to land if and when their country becomes uninhabitable. The documentary and others like it hold indirect power in educating others. As for us as Canadian geography students, we can be indirectly powerful in many ways, including that which we are engaging in right now - forming a blog, voicing our opinions and sharing information on the topic allows others to hear about the crisis. 

As with any article, documentary, news outlet, etc., there is an amount of bias to be expected. Through the practice of critical reflexivity, we can reflect on our process, as well as embrace subjectivity to ensure the most accurate research and reporting. The insertion of personal opinions into this research, otherwise known as subjectivity (Hooykaas, 2021), can greatly influence the outcome of a research project. As students, it is taught to us all the time that we must rely on multiple resources to get as wide of a view as possible. Along with subjectivity comes objectivity, which is another critical concept in the life of a researcher. Quantitative research is often looked on more highly than qualitative because, as the old saying goes, “numbers don’t lie”. As described by Hay, however, total objectivity is impossible even in quantitative research due to the social aspects related to research. It is crucial that as researchers of human geography we maintain an outlook of caution, reminding ourselves to remain both subjective AND objective simultaneously - removing our own biased opinions, while also reminding ourselves that those of others might still be present. 

The human geographic approach I feel would fit well are primarily historical combined with ethnography. As mentioned in the documentary, this Indigenous nation is home to a long history of traditions, practices and beliefs. Ancestral relations are said to be crucial to the Kiribatian people, and it was brought up that should they be victims of forced migration with the rising sea levels, they would be abandoning their ancestors and sociocultural heritage. Additionally, grounded theory will be assistive when observing the relation between carbon emissions and sea level rise. This quantitative data would provide insight into whether this relationship is causation or correlation, the result of which will direct activists the correct way to a potential solution to the “sinking” of Kiribati.

To conclude, I feel I could best help out this exceptional island with a passionate but objective approach, utilizing the theories of historical, ethnographic and ground theoretical quantitative research. Though I do not have a high ground of power to which many influential people listen, I can still do my best with the massive expanse of social media to spread the word, get other people involved and eventually reach those in charge.

REFERENCES:

AJ+ (Director). (2014, December 8). Kiribati: The Sinking Islands Being Destroyed By Climate Change[Video file]. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7jXveokDY

Hay, Iain. Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography. Fourth ed., Oxford, 2016

Hooykaas, A. “Philosophy, Power, Politics, and Research.” University of Guelph, 2021

[rhgeog2260]

How I became a Geographer and how I consume knowledge

My name is Robin, and I am in my third year at the University of Guelph. Welcome to my first blog post! 

My entire life, my career path has actually always been Marine Biology. I have such a passion for marine life and ecosystems. Naturally, I began at the University of Guelph as a Marine and Freshwater Biology student. As many people learn through their university experience, individuals are better at some things than others. For myself, no matter how interested I was (and still am) in Marine Biology, a BSc was clearly not for me. In my third semester I submitted my transfer request for BA Geography, and I am so so happy that I did!

In high school the class known as “geography” was always very broad for me - I hadn’t even learned about all the different fields of geography until I was in the program! Now, I am more excited than ever to pursue my eventual career. With my passion for marine biology, I plan on going into the field of biogeography - why species are distributed where they are. I would like to of course focus on the marine aspect, but I am also considering an entomological path!

As a consumer of knowledge at university, I have a lot of places I can turn to for reliable knowledge. Firstly, my teaching team - that is, professors and TAs. Their jobs are to help students succeed, so I am able to trust that they will not misguide me or steer me in the wrong direction. I know if i am having difficulty understanding something, or if I am looking for further knowledge on a subject, I can turn to them. Secondly, the Guelph library is an enormous source of information - not just physical books, but an entire online database as well! Though, I tend to proceed this way with caution, as some authors may have a bias, or not have the credentials to back up what they are preaching. Finally, I love discussing topics with classmates, opening up conversations for the betterment of our understanding. As mentioned before, some people have strengths where others have weaknesses, and thus communicating as a group helps one to understand all sides of the concept. 

I look forward to interacting with my peers on this platform! Feel free to reach out to me if you would ever like to discuss geography, marine biology, or anything else!

Stay safe!

Robin Hounsell

[atgeog2260]

Hi Robin!

I would first like to add that the name of your blog made me chuckle I think it is very creative and secondly that I really appreciate your honesty, It is definitely  not so easy finding the right fit academically. I originally enrolled in Environmental Governance and found economics a big challenge so like you also found refuge in Geography. To touch on the point that you brought up regarding peer communication, I completely agree that it is such a crucial source of information sharing. Talking and communicating with friends and family was one of the information sources I discussed in my blog post as well. Communicating with others about information can challenge and help to reinforce your point of view on a subject, although sometimes when you only talk to those who share your opinion it can cause an echo chamber and no new way of thinking is appreciated or considered. This then erases the opportunity to expand your mind and appreciate other sides of a subject. Not only is communicating with peers to continue the spread of information important but it can also be a tool for sharing experiences to help one another not feel so alone. Sometimes you feel as though you are the only one going through something but when just one person says “I feel that way too!” or “I have experienced the same thing!” It can help tremendously. This is why your post stood out to me, offering a helping had or even just inviting conversation can help someone in more ways than one. 

I would also like to add that both marine biology and entomology are very interesting fields of study. I am curious to know if you have any interesting insect facts or marine facts and/or what your favorite insect/ marine creature is. 

My favorite insect would definitely be the hercules beetle, and my favorite marine creature would be the umbrella octopus.  

:)

[rhgeog2260]

Great to meet you Abi! 

Thank you for your contribution on my post! I’m happy we have similar “entrance stories” into the world of geography!

You are totally right in that only conversing with people with the same opinion as you cannot very well further a conversation or make large changes. A healthy debate is always welcome to provoke thought and discussion!

My favourite insect would probably be the Rosy Maple Moth, while my favourite marine creature is pretty much anything in the ray family, especially Mantas! 

Did you know sharks and rays are very closely related? They are both Chondrichthyes, meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone!

Feel free to reach out to me if you would ever like to chat further, be it on here or on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc! :)