Introduction

Geography nonetheless has a long and significant tradition of practical application and relevance. Applied geography is a recognizable and enduring facet of the practice of Geography; indeed, its ‘usefulness’ is one justification for its existence. The applied qualities of Geography begin with its founding roles of cartography and map making. Geography needs its applied tradition and it also needs a live and thriving relevance to the problems of the real world. Social geography’s frequent focus on issues such as poverty, disadvantage and segregation has been replaced by what Philo called ‘the less-than-tangible, often fleeting spaces of texts, signs, symbols, psyches, desires, fears and imaginings’. It is also important to recognize that many of the funding agencies are seeking practical contributions from their research funding investments. In the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States, the special funding initiatives that come forward are targeted at themes such as wealth creation, economic regeneration, global warming and sustainability.