New Relevance for the New Century

9319015克劳利地理这门科学学科在美国的经济、政治和社会生活中发挥着核心作用。它也已成为美国教育改革的一个主要焦点，在1990年总统和州长通过的国家教育目标中被指定为美国学校的五个核心科目之一。然而，该学科现在面临着几个重大挑战。这些挑战包括：-将地理学作为一门科学与基层民众对地理素养的兴趣联系起来，-加强地理学术和地理教育之间的关系，-满足对地理教育者的需求，地理学家将更多的研究集中在国家和全球问题上，-澄清地理作为一门学科相对于许多部分地理多学科活动的作用，以及-应对地理学科学研究的更高成本。在NSF和其他组织的支持下，国家科学院/国家研究委员会(NAS/NRC)将召集一个委员会对美国的地理进行全面评估。评估的目标是(1)确定该学科的关键问题和制约因素，(2)明确教学和研究的优先事项，(3)将该学科的发展与国家对地理教育的需求联系起来，(4)增加科学界对地理的欣赏，以及(5)与国际科学界就美国地理学的未来发展方向进行交流。委员会成员将来自学术界、公共部门和私营部门。委员会将通过简报、实况调查和讨论来编写一份总结其调查结果的报告。这份报告将接受NAS/NRC的审查程序，并将随时提供给地理学家和其他人。这一项目将对地理学的前景和面临的问题进行有价值的、及时的审查。特别有益的是关于研究优先事项和可采取的步骤的建议，以便更密切地将地理基础研究和应用研究联系起来。***

9319015 CROWLEY The scientific discipline of geography plays a central role in economic, political, and social life in the United States. It also has become a major focus of educational reform in the nation, having been designated as one of five core subjects for American schools in the National Education Goals adopted by the President and state governors in 1990. Several significant challenges now face the discipline, however. Among these challenges are: - connecting geography as a science with grassroots interest in geographic literacy, - strengthening the relationship between geographic scholarship and geographic education, - meeting the demand for geographic educators, focusing more research by geographers on national and global issues, - clarifying the role of geography as a discipline relative to the many partly geographic multidisciplinary activities, and - coping with the higher costs of scientific research in geography. With support from NSF and other organizations, the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC) will convene a committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment of geography in the U.S. The objectives of the assessment are (1) to identify critical issues and constraints for the discipline, (2) to clarify priorities for teaching and research, (3) to link developments in the discipline with national needs for geographic education, (4) to increase the appreciation of geography within the scientific community, and (5) to communicate with the international scientific community about the future directions of geography in the U.S. Committee members will be drawn from the academic, public, and private sectors. The committee will use briefings, fact-finding exercises, and discussions to produce a report that will summarize its findings. This report will be subject to NAS/NRC review procedures and will be readily available to geographers and others. This project will provide a valuable and timely examination of the prospects and problems facing geography. Especially beneficial will be recommendations regarding research priorities and steps that can be taken to more closely link basic and applied research in geography. ***