Department of Geographical Sciences, Environmental and Planning

The Department of Geographical Sciences, Environmental and Planning is one of the six departments in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences. As one of the founding departments of the University of Zambia, the department has a long history of producing well-trained professionals in various geographical and environmental fields. Among them include hydrologists, planners, resource scientists, energy economists, climate change specialists, conservationists, ecologists and rural development specialists working in various government units, development agencies, private firms and non-government organizations.

Currently, the department is running undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in geography, environment and natural resources management, spatial planning and geo-information science and earth observation. These programmes seek to respond to the social, economic and ecological challenges facing our planet such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, rapid population growth, urbanization challenges and increasing global and regional inequalities. The department takes an integrated approach to the study of geography, environment, natural resources and spatial planning. All this is in a bid to achieve the vision of being the leading department (both within the country and in the region) in research and training that enhances the country’s capacity to achieve sustainable development.

Location of The Department

The Department is strategically located in the main building midway between the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Natural and Applied Sciences. Immediately below the Air photo. Interpretation room (API) is the University’s Computer Centre. The University Library, the Bookshop and the post office are all within a minute’s walk from the Department. Above the Geography and Environmental Studies main office is the Senior Staff Common Room that provides snacks, meals and soft drinks during working hours.

Facilities in the Department

The Department maintains two spatial planning studios, a GIS laboratory, a satellite receiver station and a fully equipped Meteorological Station for the University which was recently rehabilitated in order to bring it in line with other major stations in the country