ABSTRACT: A critical view of the role of academic geomorphology and its place in society: a disciplinary assessment

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

With the aim to understand the proper role of the academic discipline of geomorphology and its place in society, this study seeks to answer the question, 'How should the discipline respond to increasing internal and external pressure to become more socially relevant?' Many comments on this topic have been published; however, these have tended to be divided in interest with one group being generally in favour of maintaining their disinterested position as academic researchers while another seeks to change the purpose of the work done within the discipline by directing it towards the solution of practical problems outside the domain of pure science. Since pure (i.e., disinterested) science and applied science are not clearly defined concepts, the present study at first makes an operationally meaningful distinction between them and, as well, explains their relations to the concept of research as a continuum. This distinction proves to be indispensable to discriminating between the proper roles of academic (i.e., pure) and applied geomorphology. The essential point here is that while pure and applied science are alike in method, they have different immediate objectives, and so, it is possible they will conflict in situations of limited and perhaps decreasing resources wherein choices of problems and appropriate actions must be made. Instead of trying to justify one of these modes of action, the present study seeks to provide a basis for a better understanding of the whole issue of the participation of academic disciplines in society. Instead of merely weighing the relevance of the sides of this debate, as has been done by others, this study refers the participation issue to a larger historical and societal context that gives an overlay of meaning to the situation of which the various interests and actions of academic geomorphologists are related. The best strategy for the discipline's participation in society is for them to take up a disinterested but persuasive position that involves academic geomorphologists reaching to relate to others through teaching, continuation of pure research, and improved presentation of the results.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology