Geography & Geographic Information Science

The widening gap between critical human and physical geography raises concerns about the long-term viability of our field and spurs regular calls for reintegration. Even a brief review of these calls makes two points glaringly clear: this discussion has been going on for a long, long time and, given its regular reoccurrence, it would seem we have little to show for it.

Dr. Atiles book Crisis by Design (Stanford, 2024) offers an interdisciplinary sociolegal analysis of the role of law, emergency powers, and anticorruption mobilizations in Puerto Rico’s ongoing multilayered crisis.

Despite a decade of economic decline, disasters, and population loss, Puerto Rico’s auto market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with new vehicle sales consistently surpassing 120K units since 2021. The phenomenon reflects more than consumer preference—revealing a systemic dependence on automobility shaped by colonial political, logistical, and financial structures.

This panel discussion will examine the kinds of ethical standards and dilemmas we face as professional geographers in our interactions with colleagues and students. Attendance is required for graduate students and encouraged for faculty.