It’s a busy day anywhere in the world. You roll out of bed and grab your smartphone. You check a news website or a weather app or look up directions to an appointment. Most people don’t think about it ...

Carmelle Terborgh gets a little tired of explaining to people why geography excites her. “Sometimes you tell people, ‘I’m a geographer,’ ” Terborgh said, “and people say, ‘So, you know where all the ...