0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R0 - R50 (1)
  • R50 - R100 (10)
  • R100 - R250 (676)
  • R250 - R500 (5,438)
  • R500+ (33,712)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Earth & environment > Geography

Geographers - Biobibliographical Studies, Volume 1 (Hardcover): T.W. Freeman, Marguerita Oughton, Philippe Pinchemel Geographers - Biobibliographical Studies, Volume 1 (Hardcover)
T.W. Freeman, Marguerita Oughton, Philippe Pinchemel
R6,254 Discovery Miles 62 540 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

An annual collection of studies of individuals who have made major contributions to the development of geography and geographical thought. Subjects are drawn from all periods and from all parts of the world, and include famous names as well as those less well known: explorers, independent thinkers and scholars. Each paper describes the geographer's education, life and work and discusses their influence and spread of academic ideas. Each study includes a select bibliography and brief chronology. The work includes a general index and a cumulative index of geographers listed in volumes published to date.

Emerging Methods and Multidisciplinary Applications in Geospatial Research (Hardcover, New): Donald Patrick Albert, G. Rebecca... Emerging Methods and Multidisciplinary Applications in Geospatial Research (Hardcover, New)
Donald Patrick Albert, G. Rebecca Dobbs
R4,608 Discovery Miles 46 080 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

We need to understand how to utilize Geospatial Research in order to help us solve problems in environmental, life science, and defense industries, as well as intelligence, natural resources, medical and public safety industries. Emerging Methods and Multidisciplinary Applications in Geospatial Research exemplifies the usage of geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) to explore and resolve geographical issues from various application domains within the social and/or physical sciences. It specializes in studies from applied geography that interfaces with geographic information science and technology. This publication is designed to provide planners and policy analysts, practitioners, academicians, and others using GIS&T useful studies that might support decision-making activities.

Energy Poverty, Practice, and Policy (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2022): catherine butler Energy Poverty, Practice, and Policy (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2022)
catherine butler
R1,499 Discovery Miles 14 990 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

This Open Access book examines the implications of welfare policy for energy poverty and engages with key conceptual debates at the forefront of energy demand research. Academic work on energy poverty has rarely been brought into conversation with practice-theory-based approaches to energy use and sustainability. This book reveals how novel insights can be made visible through combining these different ways of thinking about energy demand issues. It presents a distinctive approach to energy poverty that places inequalities at the heart of debates about the advancing energy intensity of contemporary societies.

Geographic Information - Organization, Access, and Use (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016): Wade Bishop, Tony H. Grubesic Geographic Information - Organization, Access, and Use (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Wade Bishop, Tony H. Grubesic
R4,619 Discovery Miles 46 190 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The history and future of geographic information (GI) in the context of big data creates new avenues of concern over its organization, access and use. In this book the authors explore both the background and present challenges facing the preservation of GI, focusing on the roles of librarians, archivists, data scientists, and other information professionals in the creation of GI records for its organization, access, and use.

Textbook of Hydrops (Hardcover): Rajeev Tyagi Textbook of Hydrops (Hardcover)
Rajeev Tyagi
R2,291 Discovery Miles 22 910 Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Women and Monastic Buddhism in Early South Asia - Rediscovering the invisible believers (Hardcover): Garima Kaushik Women and Monastic Buddhism in Early South Asia - Rediscovering the invisible believers (Hardcover)
Garima Kaushik
R4,930 Discovery Miles 49 300 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book uses gender as a framework to offer unique insights into the socio-cultural foundations of Buddhism. Moving away from dominant discourses that discuss women as a single monolithic, homogenous category-thus rendering them invisible within the broader religious discourse-this monograph examines their sustained role in the larger context of South Asian Buddhism and reaffirms their agency. It highlights the multiple roles played by women as patrons, practitioners, lay and monastic members, etc. within Buddhism. The volume also investigates the individual experiences of the members, and their equations and relationships at different levels-with the Samgha at large, with their own respective Bhiksu or Bhiksuni Sangha, with the laity, and with members of the same gender (both lay and monastic). It rereads, reconfigures and reassesses historical data in order to arrive at a new understanding of Buddhism and the social matrix within which it developed and flourished. Bringing together archaeological, epigraphic, art historical, literary as well as ethnographic data, this volume will be of interest to researchers and scholars of Buddhism, gender studies, ancient Indian history, religion, and South Asian studies.

A Narrative Of Voyages And Travels In The Northern And Southern Hemispheres - Comprising Three Voyages Round The World Together... A Narrative Of Voyages And Travels In The Northern And Southern Hemispheres - Comprising Three Voyages Round The World Together With A Voyage Of Survey And Discovery In The Pacific Ocean And Oriental Islands (Hardcover)
Amasa DeLano
R1,112 Discovery Miles 11 120 Ships in 18 - 22 working days
The Koreas (Hardcover): Mary E. Connor The Koreas (Hardcover)
Mary E. Connor
R2,857 R2,591 Discovery Miles 25 910 Save R266 (9%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Asia in Focus: The Koreas is the most complete, accessible, and up-to-date resource available on both North Korea and South Korea. Asia in Focus: The Koreas presents an authoritative and unprecedented look at the contrasts and similarities between the history, geography, politics, economy, culture, and society of North Korea and South Korea. It offers a wealth of new insights into North Korean life, as well as extensive explorations of Korean music, arts, language, cuisine, and popular culture, including the "Korean wave," which began with the export of Korean television dramas to other parts of Asia and has spread South Korean culture around the world. Also included are sections on women's history and roles, class and ethnicity, and a wide range of contemporary issues. For a deeper understanding of one of the most closely watched regions of the globe, this volume is a must. Six contributing scholars with considerable experience and expertise conveying a deep understanding and appreciation for Korean culture 100 photographs, including many from author Mary Connor's travels to North and South Korea, as well as a complete compilation of maps

Target Scattering Mechanism in Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar - Interpretation and Application (Hardcover, 1st ed.... Target Scattering Mechanism in Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar - Interpretation and Application (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2018)
Si-Wei Chen, Xuesong Wang, Shun-Ping Xiao, Motoyuki Sato
R2,902 Discovery Miles 29 020 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book presents new and advanced concepts, theories and methodologies in polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) target scattering mechanism modeling and interpretation, which is dedicated to bridge the gap between the acquired data and practical applications. It proposes adaptive and generalized polarimetric target decompositions, to precisely interpret the target scattering mechanisms. Further, it develops a uniform polarimetric matrix rotation theory and a polarimetric coherence pattern visualization and interpretation tool to completely explore and characterize the deep information and target signatures in the rotation domain. Finally, it demonstrates land cover classification, target detection, natural disaster damage investigation and mapping applications which use the novel scattering mechanism investigation tools. The book is a valuable resource for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers, engineers and researchers in the field of microwave remote sensing, radar polarimetry, imaging radar, and environmental studies.

Kinetics of Water-Rock Interaction (Hardcover, 2008 ed.): Susan Brantley, James Kubicki, Art White Kinetics of Water-Rock Interaction (Hardcover, 2008 ed.)
Susan Brantley, James Kubicki, Art White
R5,993 Discovery Miles 59 930 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The geochemistry of the earth 's surface is controlled by chemical equilibrium, and the kinetics of the approach toward equilibrium. Many low temperature processes, such as weathering, do not reach equilibrium except over geologically long time periods. The approach to equilibrium can be described by kinetic theory and the application of kinetic theory to geochemical systems has made vast advances in the last several decades. Geochemical kinetics as a topic is now of importance to a wide range of geochemists in academia, industry, and government, and all geochemists need a rudimentary knowledge of the field. This book will summarize the fundamentals of geochemical kinetics with examples drawn especially from mineral dissolution and precipitation, but will also encompass discussion of high temperature processes and global geochemical cycle modeling. Analysis of textures of rocks, sediments, and mineral surfaces will be incorporated throughout and will be a subtheme of the book.

Dictionary of Quotations in Geography (Hardcover): Francis Sibley, James O. Wheeler Dictionary of Quotations in Geography (Hardcover)
Francis Sibley, James O. Wheeler
R2,081 R1,896 Discovery Miles 18 960 Save R185 (9%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

In this informative volume, James O. Wheeler and Francis M. Sibley have compiled quotations from the most prominent American geographers of this century. Their purpose in doing so is to review, identify, and characterize some of the more salient features and themes of the discipline as it has evolved over the years. The volume is divided into five major sections, four of which are based on Pattison's four traditions in American geography: earth science, man-land, area studies, and spatial. In the fifth section, Wheeler and Sibley focus on geographic education, citing quotations pertaining to techniques, application, and thought.

Geo-Architecture and Landscape in China's Geographic and Historic Context - Volume 2  Geo-Architecture Inhabiting the... Geo-Architecture and Landscape in China's Geographic and Historic Context - Volume 2 Geo-Architecture Inhabiting the Universe (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Fang Wang
R2,564 R1,933 Discovery Miles 19 330 Save R631 (25%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book approaches the concept of geo-architecture from the perspective of functions of architectures by analyzing the cases of traditional Chinese houses and tombs as well as palaces and places of worship. Houses and tombs, the 'Yang' dwellings and 'Yin' dwellings of human beings in traditional Chinese interpretation, are the two types of architectures that reveal the wisdom with which different ethnic groups adapted to different geographic environments at different times throughout the long history. Palaces are connected with various religious architectures throughout the Chinese history. The connection between imperial power and religion, along with its geographic and cultural connotations, are implicated in the pattern and layout of religious and imperial architectures. This book is the second of a 4-volume book series. The series develops the innovative concept of "geo-architecture" by exploring the myriad influences of natural, human and historical factors upon architecture. These influences are considered in three categories, namely, interaction between architecture and nature, interaction between architecture and its human users and change in architecture over time--each category serves as a lens. Augmenting these lenses is the Time-Person-Place concept applied different geographic. The analysis ultimately focuses on two aspects: geographic influence on architecture and architectural response to geography. The over 1000 pictures of case architectures enriches the study with stunning and unique visual angles. "This unprecedented work will be a unique and valuable contribution to the literature. Integrating as it does the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and geography, Wang Fang's voice is original, compelling, and will be much appreciated by English-speaking readers (and inside China, too, I can only imagine.)"Stephen M Ervin Assistant Dean Graduate School of Design, Harvard University July 2nd, 2013 "One reason for why there would be interest is because her research would fill some significant gaps in the literature.What is novel about Dr. Wang's series is that she further extends this intellectual project of looking at Chinese architecture through Chinese eyes, by taking it one provocative step further."Annette M. Kim Associate Professor Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. July 1st, 2013

Assemble in Agusan Valley - World War-II in Mindanao (Hardcover): Ray L Burdeos Assemble in Agusan Valley - World War-II in Mindanao (Hardcover)
Ray L Burdeos
R763 Discovery Miles 7 630 Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation, Second Edition, Four Volume Set (Paperback, 2nd edition): Prasad Srinivasa... Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation, Second Edition, Four Volume Set (Paperback, 2nd edition)
Prasad Srinivasa Thenkabail, John G. Lyon, Alfredo Huete
R5,822 Discovery Miles 58 220 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Written by leading global experts, including pioneers in the field, the four-volume set on Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation, Second Edition, reviews existing state-of-the-art knowledge, highlights advances made in different areas, and provides guidance for the appropriate use of hyperspectral data in the study and management of agricultural crops and natural vegetation. Volume I, Fundamentals, Sensor Systems, Spectral Libraries, and Data Mining for Vegetation introduces the fundamentals of hyperspectral or imaging spectroscopy data, including hyperspectral data processes, sensor systems, spectral libraries, and data mining and analysis, covering both the strengths and limitations of these topics. Volume II, Hyperspectral Indices and Image Classifications for Agriculture and Vegetation evaluates the performance of hyperspectral narrowband or imaging spectroscopy data with specific emphasis on the uses and applications of hyperspectral narrowband vegetation indices in characterizing, modeling, mapping, and monitoring agricultural crops and vegetation. Volume III, Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization and Plant Species Studies demonstrates the methods that are developed and used to study terrestrial vegetation using hyperspectral data. This volume includes extensive discussions on hyperspectral data processing and how to implement data processing mechanisms for specific biophysical and biochemical applications such as crop yield modeling, crop biophysical and biochemical property characterization, and crop moisture assessments. Volume IV, Advanced Applications in Remote Sensing of Agricultural Crops and Natural Vegetation discusses the use of hyperspectral or imaging spectroscopy data in numerous specific and advanced applications, such as forest management, precision farming, managing invasive species, and local to global land cover change detection.

Ocala National Forest (Hardcover): Rob Norman Ocala National Forest (Hardcover)
Rob Norman; Foreword by Gene Gallant
R719 R638 Discovery Miles 6 380 Save R81 (11%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Geo-Architecture and Landscape in China's Geographic and Historic Context - Volume 3  Geo-Architecture Blending into... Geo-Architecture and Landscape in China's Geographic and Historic Context - Volume 3 Geo-Architecture Blending into Nature (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Fang Wang
R2,611 R1,980 Discovery Miles 19 800 Save R631 (24%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book explores the concept of geo-architecture by analyzing the ways architectures are related to the local geography, including mingling or contrasting with surrounding landscape, adapting to mountainous or aquatic terrain, and selection of construction materials. Architectures build with such skillfully contrived strategies and techniques have become live exhibit of folk customs and served to record in profound detail the long history of mankind's recognition of nature. The combined effect is such that the architecture grows out of the surrounding natural and human environment. This book is the third of a 4-volume book series. The series develops the innovative concept of "geo-architecture" by exploring the myriad influences of natural, human and historical factors upon architecture. These influences are considered in three categories, namely, interaction between architecture and nature, interaction between architecture and its human users and change in architecture over time--each category serves as a lens. Augmenting these lenses is the Time-Person-Place concept applied different geographic. The analysis ultimately focuses on two aspects: geographic influence on architecture and architectural response to geography. The over 1000 pictures of case architectures enriches the study with stunning and unique visual angles. "This unprecedented work will be a unique and valuable contribution to the literature. Integrating as it does the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and geography, Wang Fang's voice is original, compelling, and will be much appreciated by English-speaking readers (and inside China, too, I can only imagine.)"Stephen M Ervin Assistant Dean Graduate School of Design, Harvard University July 2nd, 2013 "One reason for why there would be interest is because her research would fill some significant gaps in the literature.What is novel about Dr. Wang's series is that she further extends this intellectual project of looking at Chinese architecture through Chinese eyes, by taking it one provocative step further."Annette M. Kim Associate Professor Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. July 1st, 2013

A Collection of Voyages [microform] - Vol. IV.: Containing I. A Voyage Round the World: Being an Account of Capt.William... A Collection of Voyages [microform] - Vol. IV.: Containing I. A Voyage Round the World: Being an Account of Capt.William Dampier's Expedition Into the South Seas in the Ship St. George: With His Various Adventures and Engagements, &c.: Together... (Hardcover)
William 1652-1715 Dampier, William Funnell
R1,016 Discovery Miles 10 160 Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Remote Sensing - Advanced Techniques and Platforms (Hardcover): Boris Escalante Remote Sensing - Advanced Techniques and Platforms (Hardcover)
Boris Escalante
R3,631 Discovery Miles 36 310 Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Place/No-Place in Urban Asian Religiosity (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017): Joanne Punzo Waghorne Place/No-Place in Urban Asian Religiosity (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017)
Joanne Punzo Waghorne
R3,061 R1,890 Discovery Miles 18 900 Save R1,171 (38%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book discusses Asia's rapid pace of urbanization, with a particular focus on new spaces created by and for everyday religiosity. The essays in this volume - covering topics from the global metropolises of Singapore, Bangalore, Seoul, Beijing, and Hong Kong to the regional centers of Gwalior, Pune, Jahazpur, and sites like Wudang Mountain - examine in detail the spaces created by new or changing religious organizations that range in scope from neighborhood-based to consciously global. The definition of "spatial aspects" includes direct place-making projects such as the construction of new religious buildings - temples, halls and other meeting sites, as well as less tangible religious endeavors such as the production of new "mental spaces" urged by spiritual leaders, or the shift from terra firma to the strangely concrete effervesce of cyberspace. With this in mind, it explores how distinct and blurred, and open and bounded communities generate and participate in diverse practices as they deliberately engage or disengage with physical landscapes/cityscapes. It highlights how through these religious organizations, changing class and gender configurations, ongoing political and economic transformations, continue as significant factors shaping and affecting Asian urban lives. In addition, the books goes further by exploring new and often bittersweet "improvements" like metro rail lines, new national highways, widespread internet access, that bulldoze - both literally and figuratively - religious places and force relocations and adjustments that are often innovative and unexpected. Furthermore, this volume explores personal experiences within the particularities of selected religious organizations and the ways that subjects interpret or actively construct urban spaces. The essays show, through ethnographically and historically grounded case studies, the variety of ways newly emerging religious communities or religious institutions understand, value, interact with, or strive to ignore extreme urbanization and rapidly changing built environments.

The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting and Crochet Work...; Vol. 1 (Hardcover):... The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting and Crochet Work...; Vol. 1 (Hardcover)
Jane Gaugain
R865 Discovery Miles 8 650 Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Scale and Geographic Inquiry: Nature, Society, and Method (Hardcover, New): E Sheppard Scale and Geographic Inquiry: Nature, Society, and Method (Hardcover, New)
E Sheppard
R3,309 Discovery Miles 33 090 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book is the first contemporary book to compare and integrate the various ways geographers think about and use scale across the spectrum of the discipline and includes state-of-the-art contributions by authoritative human geographers, physical geographers, and GIS specialists.


The editors place competing concepts of scale side by side, demonstrating how different aspects are significant for each, and providing a detailed comparative assessment. They set out from the premise that there is much acknowledged common ground between these different approaches and that valuable insight can be gained by exploring it.

In light of the increased interest in global change and globalisation, there has been a huge surge of interest in the environmental and human sciences in the relationship between the global, the regional and the local. For this reason, this cutting edge survey of how geographers conceptualise scale should be of interest across a broad range of disciplines.

Emerging Risks in a World of Heterogeneity - Interactions Among Countries with Different Sizes, Polities and Societies... Emerging Risks in a World of Heterogeneity - Interactions Among Countries with Different Sizes, Polities and Societies (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2018)
Masayuki Tadokoro, Susumu Egashira, Kazuya Yamamoto
R3,101 Discovery Miles 31 010 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

This uniquely interdisciplinary volume analyzes the challenges posed by the heterogeneity of the world where radically different players are crammed into increasingly limited political, commercial, social, and ecological space. The rapid rise of Communist Party-ruled China is posing serious challenges to the postwar politico-economic architecture dominated by the United States. Russia, once expected to become a partner of the liberal Western international order, has started behaving in an increasingly unilateral fashion. The developing world is more characterized by failed governance rather than convergence to liberal democracies as was hoped by many Western authors. Given links provided by low-cost carriers, the Internet, and trade and investment, we simply cannot shield ourselves from influences, whether benign or malign, from neighbors on this planet.The authors, including political scientists, economists, social physicists, and experts on complexity theory and informatics, examine how interactions among actors with different properties can cause problems, and they analyze risks resulting from the interactions. While employing a variety of approaches to address topics such as economic interdependence among democracies and authoritarian states, the development assistance regimes, internal conflicts in developing countries, and cyber security, the whole volume presents a clear overview of challenges and risks the world is facing. This work makes a valuable contribution to students of social sciences as well as to practitioners interested in the emerging global order.

Environmental Change in the Himalayan Region - Twelve Case Studies (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2019): Anup Saikia, Pankaj Thapa Environmental Change in the Himalayan Region - Twelve Case Studies (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2019)
Anup Saikia, Pankaj Thapa
R2,667 Discovery Miles 26 670 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

The book focuses on environment and conservation issues pertaining to the Himalayas, spanning Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar. Environmental degradation, changes in snow cover and glaciers in India-Bhutan, threats to protected areas, and biodiversity in this ecologically fragile region are assessed in twelve distinct, regional case studies.

An Historical Map of Oxford: From Medieval to Victorian Times  (New Edition) (Sheet map, folded, 2nd Revised edition): Alan... An Historical Map of Oxford: From Medieval to Victorian Times (New Edition) (Sheet map, folded, 2nd Revised edition)
Alan Crossley
R238 Discovery Miles 2 380 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

A full colour map, based on a digitised map of the city of Oxford in 1876, with its medieval past overlain and important buildings picked out. Oxford is synonymous with its university but deserves to be known as a city in its own right as well. What the map shows is a city of different parts: areas where the base map of 1876 might still be used today, and parts which are now quite unrecognisable. This second edition of a map first issued in 2015 has been updated and revised to reflect further the editor's recent research. The opportunity has been taken to update the gazetteer of buildings and sites of interest and it is now printed in full colour throughout. The map's cover has a short introduction to the city's history, and on the reverse an illustrated and comprehensive gazetteer of Oxford's main sites of interest, from medieval monasteries to Oxford castle and the working class and industrial areas that lay just beyond the 'dreaming spires' of the city centre.

The Gathering Tide (Paperback, New edition): Karen Lloyd The Gathering Tide (Paperback, New edition)
Karen Lloyd
R307 Discovery Miles 3 070 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

"Evocative, muscular." - Kathleen Jamie. Karen Lloyd takes us on a deeply personal journey around the 60 miles of coastline that make up 'nature's amphitheatre'. Embarking on a series of walks that take in beguiling landscapes and ever-changing seascapes, Karen tells the stories of the places, people, wildlife and history of Morecambe Bay. So we meet the King's Guide to the Sands, discover forgotten caves and islands that don't exist, and delight in the simple beauty of an oystercatcher winging its way across the ebbing tide. As we walk with Karen, she explores her own memories of the bay, making an unwitting pilgrimage through her own past and present, as well as that of the bay. The result is a singular and moving account of one of Britain's most alluring coastal areas.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
Top 10 Best Synastry Aspects
Diane Eddington Paperback R262 Discovery Miles 2 620
Numerology for Beginners - Master and…
Michelle Northrup Hardcover R668 R597 Discovery Miles 5 970
Momstrology - The Astrotwins' Guide to…
Ophira Edut, Tali Edut Paperback R647 R596 Discovery Miles 5 960
Tarot Reading Made Easy - The Newbies…
Shelly O'Bryan Hardcover R658 R587 Discovery Miles 5 870
Full Moon Ritual Mastery - Lunar…
Angela Grace Hardcover R513 Discovery Miles 5 130
Rudolf Steiner on Leonardo's Last Supper…
Adrian Anderson Hardcover R690 Discovery Miles 6 900
Tarot Unveiled AND Tarot Ultimate Guide…
Serra Night Hardcover R782 Discovery Miles 7 820
Astrology, Crystals and Spirituality
Patricia Godden Paperback R819 Discovery Miles 8 190
Astrology: a Cosmic Science - The…
Isabel M. Hickey Paperback R563 R527 Discovery Miles 5 270
New Moon Astrology - Lunar Cycle…
Angela Grace Hardcover R468 Discovery Miles 4 680

 

Partners