" The decline of geography in academia is easy to understand: we live in an age of ever-increasing specialization, and geography is a generalist's discipline. Imagine the poor geographer trying to explain to someone at a campus cocktail party (or even to an unsympathetic adminitrator) exactly what it is he or she studies. " Geography is Greek for 'writing about the earth.' We study the Earth." " Right, like geologists." " Well, yes, but we're interested in the whole world, not just the rocky bits. Geographers also study oceans, lakes, the water cycle..." " So, it's like oceanography or hydrology." " And the atmosphere." " Meteorology, climatology..." " It's broader than just physical geography. We're also interested in how humans relate to their planet." " How is that different from ecology or environmental science?" " Well, it encompasses them. Aspects of them. But we also study the social and economic and cultural and geopolitical sides of--" " Sociology, economics, cultural studies, poli sci." " Some geographers specialize in different world regions." " Ah, right, we have Asian and African and Latin American studies programs here. But I didn't know they were part of the geography department." " They're not." (Long pause.)" So, uh, what is it that do study then? "