Geographer

If you’ve ever played Trivial Pursuit, you’ll recognize “Geography” from the game board, where it’s the blue piece of the pie. To get it, you have to correctly answer questions about the earth, including its land, climate, natural resources and geopolitical boundaries.

Geography isn’t just a category of trivia, however. It’s also a career. If you’re a Geographer, therefore, you don’t answer geography questions; you live them.

Employed most often by governments, universities and nonprofits, you study the world and the places within it. Typically, that means one of two things: If you’re a Physical Geographer, you study the earth, including its topography and terrain, as well as its climate, atmosphere and ecosystems. By analyzing the earth’s surface, you develop knowledge for almanacs, maps and zoning laws, and solutions for industries as varied as agriculture, manufacturing and real estate.

If you’re a Human Geographer, on the other hand, you study not only the earth, but also the relationship that humanity has with it. That includes, for instance, how the earth’s physical attributes impact cultural, economic and social issues. By studying an area’s topography, population and natural resources, for example, you can help determine the best places to grow crops, build factories, open hospitals and establish communities.

No matter what kind of Geographer you are, your business card probably won’t say “Geographer.” Instead, it will say something like, Teacher, Land Surveyor, Urban Planner, Cartographer or Climatologist. Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter what you’re called; if your work involves the strategic study of land, you’re a Geographer!