Our Vision
Memorial Geography will be at the forefront of building connections with our dynamic societies and environments, and become the beating heart of collaborative and cooperative knowledge within and beyond the university.
Come study the world with us! The Department of Geography celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020-21 and remains the only comprehensive geography program in Atlantic Canada, offering BA, BSc., Honours, MA, MSc., and PhD programs. At Memorial, Geography aims to teach students how to investigate environmental and human systems using interdisciplinary, field-informed concepts and approaches. Our Faculty teach students theories, methods and analytical techniques applicable to a wide range of questions and broad spectrum of occupations and to foster a spirit of inquiry about geography. Our research encompasses local, national, and international interests, including climate change, Arctic communities, coastal governance, electronic waste, immigration, marine habitat mapping, microplastics pollution, resource development, and urban development. Visit our Research and Faculty pages to learn more, and read our most recent Research Report.
News
PRESENTS
Keif Godbout-Kinney
Please join us for the Geography Blue Box Speaker Series for an engaging talk by Keif Godbout-Kinney, PhD Candidate (MUN-Sociology).
‘The doctor is on’’: In what ways does automation change relational dynamics, performative roles, and surgeon identity?
This work is situated within a growing field that examines the larger societal ramifications of people’s increasing use of and reliance on automation. Grounded in discourses on the potential impacts and implications of automation on human relationality and discussions of the cultural significance and meaning-making of robots and AI, this work provides a social analysis rooted in the everyday practice of automation in medical settings. The impetus for this project comes from two primary sources: The first is my longstanding interest in automation and social robots, stemming primarily from my master’s thesis on the emergence of sex robots under capitalism and the potential implications for intimate human relationships. The second is driven by the recent (as of this writing, 2022) advent of ChatGPT and similar large language models (LLMs) and how such algorithms are inciting myriad discussions on automation and the future of work.
When: Friday March 27th, 2026 | 12-1 pm
Where: Arts 2071
The Department of Geography at Memorial University invites
Applications for RA position in Urban Heat Island Mitigation research based with the Urban Ecology & Analytics Lab.
We are seeking a motivated and committed student to join us as a research assistant (RA). This role involves extracting excess heat-related well-being data from an already approved national-scale dataset by Statistics Canada for a dozen Canadian cities. Prior to that, a review of the relevant scientific literature will be conducted to identify a list of well-being impacts that could arise from exposure to high temperatures.
For details, please check:
Research Assistant Undergraduate
Applications should be emailed to Dr. Mahyar Masoudi at mahyar.masoudi@mun.ca.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
What may be lost with cuts to Memorial University
Josh Lepawski (Geography) and Barbara Lou Neis (Sociology) appear on The Signal to discuss the future of Memorial amidst cuts and downsizing.
"The standard talking point is that Memorial is only a cost centre. It's never treated as an investment, despite the evidence that it clearly is."
CBC (audio)
YouTube (video)