Established in November 2016, Faculty of Geographical Science (FGS) is the second largest division of Beijing Normal University (BNU). FGS is dedicated to being at the forefront of teaching and learning and fostering cutting edge research and discovery as well as contributing to societal services in Geography. FGS and was among the top (Rank No.1, 2016) among Chinese universities and ranked No. 51-100 (QS Ranking, 2020) internationally. While Geographical Science is the core discipline, FGS also covers related disciplines as Surveying and Mapping Science and Engineering, Safety Science and Engineering etc.
FGS comprises six secondary institutions, including School of Geography, School of Natural Resources, Institute of Remote Sensing Science and Engineering, Institute of Land Surface Systems and Sustainable Development, Centre for Geo-Data and Analysis, Institute of Disaster Risk Science, FGS also directly involves in the running of State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science authorized by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
FGS offers a variety of degree programs and is delivering high quality education. There are five undergraduate programs respectively in Geographical Science, Physical Geography and Resource Environment, Human Geography and Urban and Rural Planning, Geographical Information Science, and Resource and Environmental Sciences. More than 460 undergraduate students are enrolled at present. With one Doctoral Degree Program at first-level discipline, two Master’s Degree Programs at first-level discipline and eight at second-level discipline, there are nearly 900 graduate students currently enrolled. A comprehensive multi-disciplinary and multi-level education and training system characterises FGS.
FGS is directly involved in the construction and administration of both the State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and the State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, and ensures the efficient operation of the nine ministerial (Ministry of Education) and provincial (City of Beijing) level research platforms. Through the successful construction of a large-scale simulation device to study sandstorm processes, soil processes and climate change, as well as the establishment of long-term field observation bases on soil erosion, ecological hydrological processes, and utilization of sea ice resources research, FGS provides a sound foundation for the advancement of scientific research.
In carrying forward BNU’s fine tradition of unity, and in being pragmatic and progressive, FGS endeavors to foster the development of a first-class discipline and the cultivation of first-class talent through innovation and opening up of academic exchanges.