Introduction: Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences in the Next Decade

Understanding the Changing Planet: Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences, produced by the U.S. National Research Council's (NRC) ad hoc Committee on Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences in the Next Decade, is an agenda-setting document that speaks to a transdisciplinary geographical science but nonetheless challenges geographers to think about how the discipline of geography can contribute to a better understanding of our rapidly changing planet. In this Focus Section, five geographers are invited to evaluate the NRC report, followed by a response from Alexander Murphy on behalf of the NRC Committee. We hope this Focus Section initiates a new conversation among geographers about the future of geography.