6 research groups - 1 department
The Department of Geography and Spatial Science is involved in a wide range of research activities. It includes two research groups each in Physical Geography and Human Geography, along with two additional groups focusing on Geospatial Technologies (GST) and Geography and Economics Education. This structure ensures a broad and diverse field of research areas.
Various research approaches and methods are employed to investigate spatial structures and processes at local, regional, and global scales. As a discipline that encompasses both natural sciences (Physical Geography) and social sciences and humanities (Human Geography), we particularly focus on human-environment relationships within the framework of Integrative Geography.
The thematic focal points of our department include mountain and polar research, studies on climate change and its impacts on landscapes, water, and society, research on sustainability in urban and regional development, and investigations on the spatial organization of the exchange of goods between production and consumption, particularly in the food sector. Our regional research primarily targets the immediate vicinity of the university (Styria), the Alpine region, Central and Southeastern Europe, North and South America, and the Arctic. Research activities within our department are closely linked with numerous partners at local, regional, national, European, and international levels.