Department of Geography
Prof. Anindita Datta
Head-Department of Geography
Delhi School of Economics
Introduction
The Department of Geography was established in October 1959. Professor V.K.R.V. Rao, an eminent economist and the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi, founded the Department of Human Geography as a constituent of the Delhi School of Economics. Professor George Kurian, a well-known geographer of India, was the first Head of the Department. The name of the Department was changed to the Department of Geography in 1976 to widen the scope of teaching and research activity in the physical and human aspects of Geography. The Department has evolved many new courses, which have been widely acclaimed as frontiers in Geography. Today, it is well known as among the premier departments of the country, offering the most contemporary courses in the discipline. Department of Geography was among the 101-150 ranked Departments in QS World University Rankings, 2017 and the First in India. In 2020-21 it was among the 151-200 ranked Departments in QS World University Rankings, 2020-21.
Faculty Members
Faculty members have published several research papers in reputed journals and books with national/international publishers and regularly attend national and international conferences. Faculty members also undertake research projects from various agencies including the University Grants Commission, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Indo-Canadian Shastri Institute and Ministries of Govt. of India, which include Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Science and Technology and Planning Commission as well as from International agencies such as Swedish Council for Higher Education, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada among others. Faculty members of the Department serve on several international and National level Committees including as Chairs of the International Geographical Union's Commissions and in the Executive of the National Association of Geographers India.
Programmes
The Department draws students from different parts of India as well as from abroad. It offers a two-year Master of Arts (M.A.) programme in Geography, for which more than 100 students are admitted. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme emphasizes original research with a focus on primary data collection and analysis of data using the advanced methodology and computer-aided skills. Through teaching and research, the Department reflects the vital role of Geography in a changing world.
Alumni
Alumni of the Department serve in prestigious organizations and administrative services of the Government of India and State Governments. Several are also in Faculty positions in Higher Education Institutions in India and abroad and serving with international bodies such as the UN.
Facilities
The Department is equipped with a state-of-art GIS laboratory, geomorphology-cum-remote sensing laboratory with facilities for photogrammetry, aerial photo interpretation, digital image processing and soil analysis. The GIS laboratory is fully equipped with 30 computers, 3 work stations, server, scanners, plotter, printers, the latest GIS, remote sensing and statistical software like Arc View/Info GIS, ILWIS, MapInfo, IDRISI Andes, ERDAS Imagine, WMS, SPSS etc. The Department has also initiated a Media Lab and added a reading room for research scholars.
UGC – Special Assistance Programme
The Department has been a part of the University Grants Commission Special Assistance Programme (SAP) for DRS-I to DRS-III. The traditional thrust areas of the Dept have been Natural Resource Management and Urban and Regional Planning. These have since been expanded to include contemporary areas such as Gender Space and Society. UGC sanctioned staff and grants to develop GIS and geomorphology-cum-remote sensing laboratories. As a result, the Department has been able to offer more advanced level courses in remote sensing, geographical information systems, physical geography and computer-aided cartography. Under the Programme the Department has acquired databases like that of the Census of India.
Further details about the department can be accessed at www.geography.du.ac.in