Department of Geography

Geography professor Kam Wing Chan discusses the little known "hukou," a small document that could have a big impact on keeping China's poor from joining the middle class.

An interest in social justice led Sam Nowak (BA, Geography) to the Department of Geography, where he pursued research on issues of inequality, particularly among Seattle's homeless and other marginalized populations.

Graham Pruss knows a thing or two about being homeless, having lived through some tough times on the streets as a teen. So when he noticed a growing number of people living in their vehicles in his Seattle neighborhood, he was determined to help.

UW geography students extensively researched neighborhoods along three new RapidRide bus routes in King County, then created a website to share their information with artists creating work for those routes. 

The growing trend of allowing police to "banish" citizens from certain neighborhoods is explored in Banished: The New Social Control in Urban America, by UW Professors Katherine Beckett and Steve Herbert.

When the economy floundered, Chinese migrant workers were among the largest casualties globally, in part because of a Maoist-era institution known as hukou that continues to function in China today, creating two levels of citizenship.

Using GIS technology, geography students collaborate with community partners on projects ranging from siting Pea Patch gardens to analyzing K-12 student philanthropy. 

Tour downtown Seattle with Professor Michael Brown and you’ll experience the city from a rarely seen perspective, focusing on Seattle’s gay and lesbian history.