Die weg na 'n omgewingsgeografie

While geography's organization in subdisciplines hardly changed since it was institutionalized as a university discipline during the 1880s, its struccure and research styles changed rapidly and fundamentally since 1960. These changes severely stressed physical geography, the traditional base of the discipline. Within geography the socalled quantification revolution of the 1960s alienated physical geography to such extent from the rest of the discipline that physical geographers failed to utilize the opportunities opened up from outside by the 'environmental turn' of the 1970s. At present the interests of physical geographers are accommodated within a new 'environmental geography' which is wider in domain and more flexible and permeable than its predecessor. This article orientates environmental geography in the world of science and suggests a framework for training in and the practice of environmental geography.