Advancing geographical science: Interdisciplinary frontiers and future prospects

Geographical science bridges the natural and social sciences to study present-day and past coupled human–environment systems. Rooted in systems thinking and sustainability principles, it emphasizes the interactions and feedbacks between natural and societal processes. Grounded in this integrative approach, this perspective identifies nine cross-disciplinary frontier domains, including ecohydrological processes, earth system modeling, regional functional evolution, urban–rural coordination, smart cities, and big earth data, that collectively address the complexity of environmental and societal dynamics. Strategic priorities are outlined to strengthen fundamental research, advance integrative methodologies, enhance long-term observation and data-model sharing networks, foster the synergistic evolution of AI and geography, expand international collaboration, and lead global research initiatives. Together, these directions chart a pathway toward a holistic, data-rich, and globally engaged geographical science that supports sustainability transitions and planetary stewardship.