The Department of Socio-Economic Geography(DSEG) was established on January 1, 2020. The scientific-research Department belongs to a newly-created discipline of science – Socio-economic geography and spatial economy. The studies carried out so far at other organizational units of the University of Warmia and Mazury secured the position of the workers, within the country as well as on the international arena.

Taking up activity under new realities and organizational structures allows continuous and consequent carrying out of scientific studies in a few main directions:

• The modeling of spatial, demographic and socio-economic changes, as well as the real estate market.
• Processes of landscape and environmental changes.
• Processes of urbanization and human pressure and their spatial, environmental and socio-economic effects.
• Social aspects with reference to the principles of land management.  
• Changes in the development and evolution of urban and rural areas as well as transition zones, with a particular focus on recreational and green areas, as well as legally protected areas.

The studies carried out so far have led to many publications in renowned scientific journals, monographs, guidebooks and conference materials. The results of the works have been systematically presented at national and international scientific conferences, being the basis for introducing innovations in units involved in spatial planning and contribute to the expansion of knowledge in the scope of socio-economic geography and spatial management. The most important partner of DSEG is the Department of Geography and Land Management of Vilnius University, with ongoing cooperation since 2013.

Educational activities are strictly connected with the directions of the conducted studies. We have been entrusted with, among others, active participation in the University Partnership for the Development of Studies in the Field of Spatial Management. Under this partnership, the development strategy of this field of studies in Poland is discussed and prepared. Such activity is directly connected with works in the Working Group for Staff Development in the Scope of Spatial Management of the Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning as well as works on the Project of the National Strategy of Regional Development 2030.

The Department Staff are also involved in carrying out external research projects:

• Social Communication and Participation as an Element of Measuring the Social Capital of Rural Communes of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship (19.12.2019 - 24.03.2021) – NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE – MINIATURE 3. Team leader: PhD Eng Katarzyna Pawlewicz.
• The Concept of Evaluating the Sight-aesthetic Attractiveness of Underwater Landscapes of Lakes in the Context of Tourist Exploration (15.01.2021 r. – 14.01.2024 r.) – NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTER – OPUS 19. Team leader: PhD Adam Senetra, UWM professor; Contractor 1: PhD Eng Piotr Dynowski; Contractor 2: PhD Eng Anna Źróbek-Sokolnik; Contractor 3: PhD Eng Marta Figurska.