Geography, Environment, Sustainability (Jun 2012)
“NEW” GEOGRAPHY IN UKRAINIAN REALITY: MISSION AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Abstract
It is a well-known fact that science is international in nature and has no national boundaries. The authors of the paper presented herein used the combination of the words “new geography” and “Ukrainian reality” in attempt to focus attention on the complexities of geography in a fundamental change of social development objectives and methods of management. The authors are concerned about the decrease in the degree of influence of geography on various spheres of human life and consider the distinctive characteristics of geographical science through the presentation of the features of its construction methods (object-oriented, subject-oriented, and problem-solving methods). The weakness of geography is manifested in the lack of knowledge refined to natural laws. But it is precisely a geographer who forms a specific individual model matrix of relations using geographic logic his/her perceptions.Given the current transformation processes taking place in Ukraine, there is now a new international challenge in complex conditions of development: limited resources; environmental, demographic, and financial problems; and much more—“re-discovering of the world.” It is natural that each country meets challenges in its own ways. Therefore, by using the combination of the words “new geography” and “Ukrainian realities,” the authors attempt, on the one hand, to focus attention on the complexities of the modern formation and development of geography and, on the other hand, to emphasize the advantages of geographical studies of various spheres of human activity. They demonstrate that in Ukraine, own vectors and the development trends of geography were formed and brought real results that were positively valued not only by the scientific community, but also by society as a whole. There is a large gap between scientific and educational geography. Two possible options to reduce this gap are suggested. Examples of the implementation in Ukraine of some projects based on achieving “new geography” are provided.
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