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Natural Science and Geography PreparationOn this page I document my preparation for a post-graduate degree in physical geography (planned to begin in fall 2011), with a likely focus on mountains and possibly subarctic regions. My preparation includes, in addition to readings, life experience and skills gained. Reading ListHere I list the books or book-sized reports I have read that have something to do with geography and earth science. Books read in other languages will be listed in that language (for my convenience), even if they exist in English. My latest readings are listed first, with incomplete readings lacking a date. Foundational texts are marked in bold.
Other ReadingSince my childhood I have been fascinated with geography and have always shown a preference for mountain wilderness. I picked out picture books of scenic regions in the library and avidly read National Geographic from the ages of perhaps 12 to 17 and in spurts afterwards. During high school, I perused the weather page of our newspaper every morning at breakfast. Between that and my reading of National Geographic, atlases, and world records books, by the time I finished high school I had a good idea of the climate characteristics, geography, and general flora and fauna of most regions of the globe. Again, I was most interested in the weather and geography of mountainous regions and areas such as high deserts or northern continental regions where temperatures fluctuated wildly and where there was likely to be more wilderness. Since then I have continued to peruse atlases and maps of mountainous areas, especially in preparation for backpacking trips. As I find out more and more about general earth science, I spend more time looking at my atlases of Ukraine, which contain not only topographical information, but also detailed climate, agriculture, and soil maps. I am also well-read on the subjects of climate change, Peak Oil, and and societal responses to these twin challenges. My regular reading includes blogs such as Climate Progress and Real Climate, Wikipedia and other articles on new urban development models, organic agricultural methods, permaculture, biochar, etc. etc. and writings by Richard Heinberg, Dmitri Orlov, and others. I also investigate these topics in Russian and gain interesting perspectives through a comparison of information and viewpoints available in the two languages. Mountain Ranges VisitedIt would be expected that someone who wants to study mountains in an academic setting should have substantial experience with them to begin with. As of fall 2010 I have over 400 days of backpacking under my belt. I would like to visit and become familiar with most of the major mountain ranges of the world. I do admit a personal affinity to temperate and subarctic ranges and am not terribly interested in tramping around the jungle ranges of Indonesia, Laos, or Cameroon. Here is where my journeys have taken me so far, from my first hike at the age of 11 to the present moment:
Doing lots of hiking doesn't automatically translate into academic success in the study of mountain geography, ecology, and human impacts. But it does provide an intuitive understanding of mountains and their varieties. This experience and understanding, I think, will provide a foundation upon which technical, specialized information will stick more easily. Personal InterestLooking back, I can see that the primary motivation behind my childhood fascination with mountains and weather was a desire to discover and eventually personally experience remote wilderness areas. This remains a central interest of mine as an adult and has come to express itself in numerous and lengthy backpacking trips, websites dealing with geography and outdoor adventures, an interest in developing optimal backpacking gear, and a lifestyle where outdoor experience plays a central role. Studying mountains academically will be a harmonious addition to these interests. I have had other strong and pervasive interests over the years, particularly Russian and other foreign languages, music, and psychology. Languages and psychology could be pursued in post-graduate studies, but I have chosen to study geography because it won't hinder me from continuing to develop the other interests, which don't require an academic setting. The converse, however, would not be true. My experience has shown that the lifestyle and acquaintances that come along with the earth sciences fit me better than those of the other fields I have considered. I want to spend significant amounts of time outdoors in different locations, working alongside other people to research problems of real-world significance. The decision to study geography materialized following a realization of the environmental, resource, and energy challenges facing modern society. I want to study something that will provide me with opportunities to gain skills and experience that would prove useful even in the event of a possible collapse of industrial society. Furthermore, I want to be in a research-intensive program where I will "do things," and not just think and talk about things or obtain skills that one can easily develop on one's own without a university setting. Another goal is to avoid taking on debt for my studies. I expect a fellowship of some kind, or I will attend a university where I can afford studies and living expences with my existing income. With such uncertain economic prospects for the future, I feel that no degree is so valuable as to justify taking on substantial debt. Finally, a few words about writing. Having developed a kind of career as a writer, I see no reason to switch paths and give up writing to do something else. Rather, I see academic pursuits as being able to contribute greatly to my writing by expanding my life experience and deepening my knowledge of subjects beyond what is commonly known and accessible. Writing alone is not enough for me — it tends to isolate a person from social circles and professional communities. I do expect to write extensively on things having to do with geography both during my degree program and afterwords. No matter what additional career directions I develop in the future, I will remain a writer and conveyor of information and ideas to the general public. Where to StudyThe ideal location would be close to wilderness areas where I can actively pursue my outdoor interests and thereby flesh out my academic experience, and in a multicultural, multilingual environment. I am interested in studying in English, Russian, or possibly even Spanish (for an extra challenge!). Some good locations might be:
In addition, I continue to harbor interest in Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University in Russia, as well as some of the best Latino universities such as Mexico City and Buenos Aires, or something in Spain. There might also be some more interesting geography programs along the west coast of the U.S., in New England, or in central or northern Europe that I don't yet know about. Choosing a place to study is a complex process involving many idiosyncratic criteria in addition to practical considerations. |
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