Department of Geography

About the department

The Department of Geography, St. John’s College, Agra, was established in 1929 with the introduction of Geography as a teaching discipline in the institution. Undergraduate classes commenced in 1935, followed by the establishment of a full-fledged Postgraduate Department in 1946. The department is recognised as one of the oldest centres of higher geographical education in India and the third oldest Postgraduate Department of Geography in the country after Aligarh Muslim University (1931) and the University of Calcutta (1941). It was also the first Postgraduate Department of Geography under Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, formerly known as Agra University.

Over the decades, the department has evolved into a vibrant academic centre known for its commitment to teaching, research, and community engagement. Since its inception the department has been contributing significantly towards research in Urban Geography, Population Geography, Agricultural Geography, Rural Geography, and Land Utilisation Studies, producing several doctoral and postgraduate research works of regional importance.

Keeping pace with contemporary academic and technological advancements, the department has incorporated Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Digital Cartography, and spatial analysis into its teaching and research activities. Adopting a holistic and interdisciplinary approach that integrates both Physical and Human Geography, the department enables students to develop a broader understanding of environmental processes, regional planning, sustainable development, and geospatial technologies.

Field-based learning forms an integral part of the department’s pedagogy. Workshops, seminars, field surveys, mapping exercises, and academic activities are regularly organised to strengthen practical understanding, analytical skills, and research orientation among students. The Geography Laboratory is equipped for GIS-based analysis, cartographic studies, and spatial data visualisation, while modern field instruments, digital teaching aids, and a dedicated departmental library further contribute to a dynamic academic and research environment.

The Meridian Society (TMS) is the official student society of the Department of Geography, St. John’s College, Agra. The society was established with the objective of promoting geographical understanding among students through various academic, cultural, and field-based activities. The society provides a platform for leadership development and student participation in geographical discourse and related academic initiatives. The Society also aims to promote student contributions in the form of articles, photo essays, field reports, cartographic works, and geographical publications through its digital platform themeridiansociety.in

Programmes and Courses offered by the department

The Department of Geography, St. John’s College, Agra, offers both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes designed to provide an understanding of Physical, Human, and Applied Geography. The curriculum emphasizes theoretical foundations, practical training, and field-based learning to equip students with analytical and research skills relevant to contemporary geographical studies.

B.A. (Geography) – Three-year undergraduate programme focusing on physical geography, human geography, cartography, environmental studies, and regional geography.
M.A. (Geography) – Two-year postgraduate programme offering advanced study in geomorphology, climatology, population and economic geography, remote sensing, GIS, and research methodology.

Elective and Skill-Based Courses:

Open elective papers as per the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, allowing students from other disciplines to study geography.

Non-credit Certificate Courses:

Microsoft-word: Dissertation and Thesis Writing
Research for Noobs – Introductory Research Guidance Series
Introductory Remote Sensing and GIS

The department continually updates its courses to reflect recent academic and technological developments, ensuring alignment with national education standards and global best practices.

Achievements of the department (since its existence)

The Department continues to promote academic enrichment through conferences, workshops, and webinars focused on contemporary geographical and environmental issues. These initiatives provide a platform for students, researchers, and faculty to engage with current debates, scientific innovations, and field-based practices.

Students of the department have consistently excelled in national examinations such as UGC–NET and Civil services, with several alumni securing university gold medals and positions in reputed academic and government institutions.

2015

National Conference on “Land, Water & Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development” focused on sustainable resource management, environmental planning, and renewable energy integration for balanced regional growth.

2016

Three-Day Training Programme on “Geospatial Technologies” (20–22 February). Sponsored by: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, under the Natural Resource Data Management System (NRDMS). Provided hands-on training in Remote Sensing, GIS, and spatial data analysis.

2017

Nodal centre for IIRS-ISRO Outreach Programme on ‘Basics of Remote Sensing, GIS & GNSS’ (16 February -10 March)

2020

Academic Webinar Series (Online Learning Initiative during COVID-19)

To maintain academic continuity during the pandemic, the department hosted a series of highly academic webinars on environmental and technological themes:

“Flood Mitigation / Response & Preparedness”
“Environmental Disaster: Issues & Challenges – A Global Perspective” –
“Disaster Management and GIS”
“Earthquake Risks: Prevention and Risk Mitigation”
“Flood Forecasting”
“Geo-Hazard: A Prerequisite to Geo-Conservation”
“Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Cryospheric Science”

These sessions, available on the college’s official YouTube channel, featured national and international experts and covered global perspectives on disaster management, technological interventions, and environmental sustainability.

Three-Day Workshop on “Disaster Management” (21–23 August). Designed to enhance knowledge of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery through lectures and practical exercises.

2025

Workshop on “Microsoft Word: Advanced Features and Automation” (17 February). Focused on dissertation automation tools and document formatting techniques.
Two-Day Workshop on “Basics of Remote Sensing and GIS” (28 February – 1 March). Introduced postgraduate students to QGIS applications and spatial data analysis.
Survey Camp at Fatehpur Sikri (3–5 March). Provided field-based experience in studying socio-economic structures, migration, and environmental issues.

2026

Counselling Session on Government Examinations (19 March)

Through these academic endeavours—ranging from national conferences to specialized workshops and global webinars – the Department continues to nurture a culture of innovation, inquiry, and experiential learning. Its sustained engagement with environmental and technological issues reflects a commitment to building informed, research-oriented geographers equipped for contemporary challenges.

Head of the department

Dr. Bob Stanley Gardner

M.A., Ph.D.

Head, Department of Geography

E-mail: bob@mappingaround.in

bobstanleygardner@gmail.com

Faculty Members (Present)

Name	Dr. Bob Stanley Gardner
Designation	Assistant Professor (Senior Scale) and Head
Education	M.A. (St. John’s College, Agra in 2014) Ph.D. (St. John’s College, Dr. B. R. A. University, Agra in 2025)
Research Experience	2019 – 2025 Research Scholar (St. John’s College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra)
Teaching Experience	2015 – 2017 Guest Faculty (St. John’s College, Agra) 2017 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	bob@mappingaround.in, bobstanleygardner@gmail.com

Name	Dr. Sushant Das
Designation	Assistant Professor (Senior Scale)
Education	M.A. (D. D. U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur in 1998) Ph.D. (St. John’s College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra in 2006) M.B.A. (NIBM Global, Trivandrum, Kerela in 2025)
Research Experience	1999 – 2006 Research Scholar (St. John’s College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra)
Teaching Experience	2021 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	insightgeography@gmail.com drsushantdas@sjcagra.ac.in

Name	Dr. Nishtha Sharma
Designation	Assistant Professor
Education	M.A. (University of Kota, Rajasthan in 2012) B.Ed. (University of Kota Rajasthan in 2014) Ph.D. (University of Kota, Rajasthan in 2019)
Research Experience	2016 – 2019 Research Scholar (University of Kota, Rajasthan)
Teaching Experience	2017 – 2018 Assistant Professor (Arya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Bhusawar) 2019 – 2022 Assistant professor (Kamla Mahavidyalaya, Dholpur) 2025 – till date (St. John’s college, Agra)
Email id	drnishthasharma881@gmail.com