Geo-epistemology, as defined by William Rankin, is about how knowledge is produced rather than simply measuring the world more accurately (Rankin, 2016, p. 2). As Rankin states:

"Rather than focusing on the relentless rise of precision or ever more impressive feats of measurement and targeting, I am more interested in changes in the kind of knowledge produced." (Rankin, 2016, p. 2)

For me, the most important aspect of his work is this very explanation:

"what matters to me is not just what is known about the earth, but how it is known - and how it is used." (Rankin, 2016, p. 2)

This is crucial as I explore the dichotomy between the natural world and the digital world, and the duality of experiences they offer. Rankin, working within the historical domain at Yale, presents a perspective that is more text-heavy and contextually rich rather than visually driven. His focus on historical accuracy and context underscores the complexity of understanding our world. Moreover, while he states that:

"it is usually fair to assume that more accurate knowledge translates directly into a better user experience and more political power." (Rankin, 2016, p. 2)

I contend that possessing accurate knowledge does not guarantee its effective use. User experience can vary widely depending on the audience and their specific needs, reinforcing that how we know something is as important as what we know.

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The following diagram is my attempt at geo-epistemology, charting the fourth floor of the Geoffrey Manton building at Manchester Metropolitan University as a site of knowledge production.

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References:

Photo of maps lying on the floor by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.

Rankin, W. (2016) After the Map. University of Chicago Press.

FigJam is an online whiteboard for teams to explore ideas together (2022) Figma. [Online] https://www.figma.com/figjam/.