Interdisciplinary Research on Past Environments Through the Lens of Historical-Critical Physical Geographies

Abstract

abstract:What does it mean to be interdisciplinary and integrative in the geophysical sciences and humanities, and more specifically across physical and historical geography? While some have viewed the "divide" between physical and human geography as a hindrance to interdisciplinary research, others have worked to blur and transcend the divisions to tackle global environmental problems from an integrative perspective. This special issue is framed specifically within the context of new work in critical physical geography (CPG) by showcasing geographical research that highlights the role of historical approaches in doing interdisciplinary research on human-environment relations. A key question moving forward asks: what exactly does being "critical" mean in the context of interdisciplinary approaches like CPG? For the editors of this issue, doing "critical" research of any kind means being reflexive about the uneven power relations that shape scientific and nonscientific knowledges alike (past and present), situating physical or material processes within sociohistorical contexts (for instance, in relation to capitalism, globalization, or systemic racism), and unpacking differential terminology and techniques to find commonalities alongside tensions across disciplines.