Abstract
THE work of Section E at the meeting at Glasgow maintained the feature which has been noticeable for the last two or three years; the number of “popular” papers was comparatively small, while papers presenting the results of detailed research, or laying down foundations of future work, formed a distinct majority. Although the change has led to a marked diminution in the average numbers attending the meetings of the Section, it must be regarded as satisfactory, inasmuch as it indicates an increase in the annual output of scientific work by geographers in this country, and the fact is all the more gratifying in view of the difficulties in the way of geographical research, to which Dr. Mill drew attention in his presidential address. Dr. Mill laid his finger upon the true reason why “the few attempts which have been made in this country to promote the study of geography or to diminish the discouragements to geographical research have had but slight success” when he pointed out that “amongst the not inconsiderable number of teachers of geography in the universities and colleges of Great Britain there is not one man who receives a salary on which he can live in decent comfort so as to devote all his time, or a substantial part of it, to geographical research; and the same is true of every official of all the geographical societies.” Until there are properly equipped centres offering adequate opportunities for research as well as teaching, we cannot expect students of geography to receive the intellectual stimulus which research alone can give, nor can we develop a system of geographical teaching suited to our special educational needs and methods, and capable of satisfactoryextension to our schools.
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Geography at the British Association . Nature 64, 589–591 (1901). https://doi.org/10.1038/064589a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/064589a0