http://www.geography.osu.edu RSS/XML File for Events and News of The Ohio State University Department of Geography. Subscribe to this feed to stay in touch with news right when it hits the webpage! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:01 -0500 Professor Jianya Gong from Wuhan University (China) visited Geography and CURA on Feb. 3, 2012. Professor Gong is a leading GIScientist in China and a newly elected member of Chinese Academy of Science.  Professor Gong currently serves as Director of the State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University - a first tier research university and one of OSU's sister institutions in China. During his visit, Professor Gong met with Geography and CURA-affiliated faculty and graduate students. He also gave a CURA roundtable presentation on the International Collaborative Center for Geo-computation Studies (ICCGS) via GeoSquare.org currently being developed by professor Gong's group. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:33:45 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#197 Morton has been selected as one of three Social and Behavioral Sciences Joan N. Huber Faculty Fellows for 2012.  Each Huber Fellow will receive not only the title and recognition, but also a cash award of $6,000 a year for three years to further his/her research program.  The program is supported from endowment funds in honor of Joan Huber, who in her own scholarly career and as Dean of SBS [1984-1992] set the highest standards for all of us as researcher and educator.  This is indeed a very much deserved recognition for Morton, congratulations! For Morton's latest work, please visit http://www.geography.ohio-state.edu/our-department/faculty-more/O'Kelly In this context we are proud to mention that Geography has been very successful in the Huber Fellowship competition since its establishment in 1999.  Previous Huber Fellows in Geography include Ellen Mosley-Thompson (2000), Jeff Rogers (2002), Ed Malecki (2003), and Mei-Po Kwan (2005). Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:56:13 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#196 Daniel Sui, Distinguished Professor of Social & Behavioral Sciences and Chair of the OSU Geography Department, has been reappointed to serve another three-year term on the Mapping Science Committee (NMSC) of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council. The Mapping Science Committee organizes and oversees National Research Council studies that provide independent advice to society and to government at all levels on geospatial science, technology, and policy. It also addresses aspects of geographic information science that deal with the acquisition, integration, storage, distribution, and use of spatial data. Through its studies, the committee promotes the informed and responsible development and use of spatial data for the benefit of society. As a committee member, Sui travels to Washington DC for meetings twice a year to discuss emerging issues of interest to the broader geospatial community, provide feedback on NMSC studies, and to plan new studies. Sui's initial appointment on MSC was made back in 2008 while he was still at Texas A&M University. He came to OSU as Director of the Center for Urban & Regional Analysis (CURA) in summer 2009. He was appointed as Chair of Geography in July 2011. For more information, visit the MSC on the web at http://dels.nas.edu/global/besr/MSC. Information about Sui's recent work can be found at http://www.geography.ohio-state.edu/our-department/faculty-more/sui Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:44:18 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#195 Friday, March 2, 2012 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM The Dept. of Geography Meteorology Club invites you to participate in our 16'th Annual Severe Weather Symposium. This year we are back at the Fawcett Center and would like you to RSVP if you plan to come out and join the symposium. Directions, Logistics and Program. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:10:08 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#194 The Department of Geography Colloquium Series continues with Dr. Aaron T. Wolf, Chair of the Dept. of Geoscience, Oregon State Univ. 3:30-5PM Thursday, January 26, 2012 Ohio Student Union, Cartoon Room 1, (3rd floor).   Aaron T. Wolf, Chair of the Dept. of Geosciences at Oregon State University, will present a lectur entitled: Healing the Enlightenment Rift: Rationality, Spirituality, and Shared Waters While press reports of international waters often focus on conflict, what has been more encouraging is that, throughout the world, water also induces cooperation, even in particularly hostile basins, and even as disputes rage over other issues. Which begs the question, why do countries that share a basin cooperate on water, even when they will not cooperate over other issues? Studies offer economic, environmental, or strategic rationale to explain this "hydrocooperation," but none seems completely adequate. Perhaps some part of the answer lies not in the world of rationality, but rather in the spiritual, ethical, and moral dimensions of water conflict resolution. This talk will begin by setting the context of current understanding of water conflict and cooperation, then by documenting the geography of the "Enlightenment Rift" - the process by which the global West/North separated out the worlds of rationality from spirituality - and the impact of this rift on ideas related to natural resources management. We continue with a discussion of the current clash of worldviews, and conclude with a section describing how the two worldviews might gently be interwoven, for example within a fairly-universal construct of Four Worlds of perception, and how this construct might be employed within the framework of more effective water conflict management and transformation. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:27:47 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#193 Juliana Pernik, fiscal and human resources officer, Department of Geography, has been appointed assistant director of the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA). Pernik received her BA in psychology and human resources management from Washington University in St. Louis and MPA from the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. She will focus on collaborations with state and local agencies. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:20:25 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#192 Spatial Analysis and Modeling Plenary Lecture and Geographic Analysis Reception at the AAG. The GA reception/plenary lecture is scheduled for: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 4:40-6:20 PM in the room Nassau B, second floor of the Hilton NY. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:57:55 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#191 AAG 2012 February 24-28, 2012 - New York, New York. Ohio State University Geography Reception Sunday, February 26, 2012 9-11 PM In the Rendezvous Trinon Room at the Hilton hotel Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:05:51 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#190 Our very own Ellen Mosley-Thompson, distinguished university professor of geography and director of the Byrd Polar Research Center and her husband, Lonnie Thompson, distinguished university professor of earth sciences here at OSU have been selected to receive this year's Benjamin Franklin Medal from The Franklin Institute. This is a very prestigious honor previously awarded to scientists such as Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall and Jacques Cousteau. OSU Research Announcement. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:58:15 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#189 The Department of Geography's Holiday Party took place on Friday, December 9 in the Shelter House at the Park of Roses. It was the first time in recent memory that this event was held off campus. Despite the cold night, the shelter house warmed up with impressive attendance from graduate students, faculty, and staff, significant others, children, and friends of the department. The change in facility allowed for several activities, musical performances, and a catered meal. Between 4:30 and 5:30, attendees arrived and were greeted at a welcome table where they were given a raffle ticket for drawings that occurred later in the party. Opportunity for unstructured mingling among colleagues and friends was complemented by a spread of appetizers from a local caterer. Some attendees enjoyed testing their vocabulary with games of "Catch Phrase" Others enjoyed making holiday decorations such as candy cane reindeer and construction paper tree ornaments at a craft table. At 5:30, attendees returned to the buffet for dinner and refreshments. Graduate Studies Chair Kendra McSweeney and Department Chair Daniel Sui formally welcomed the assembled and introduced a series of performers who began to play their instruments as dinner was finished. The musicians showcased impressive talent from within the department. Together, graduate student Fang Zhang on keyboard, staff member Juliana Pernik on flute, and Professor Kevin Cox on saxophone revealed that the OSU Department of Geography is capable of more than just academic productivity. Between each of their sets, staff member Colin Kelsey, with help from the youngest attendees, announced the more than one dozen winners of the raffle and a guessing game that was also featured at the welcome table. Visiting scholar Ulrik Mårtensson was the big winner; not only did he have one of the winning raffle tickets, he also guessed nearest to the correct amount of Hershey's chocolate kisses in a jar by the door and won the jar of candy. At around 6:45, the night came to an exciting conclusion with the White Elephant gift exchange. People who brought "gag gifts" to the party participated by selecting mystery gifts, and playfully stealing gifts from other players. Some of the most sought after gifts from the Holiday Parties of previous years made an appearance, including graduate student Marc Auerbach's red cap covered with nostalgia-inducing buttons from political activism in years past. Staff member Jim DeGrand skillfully played Santa, and kept even the nonparticipants engaged and entertained. Overall, it was a night to remember. See all the pictures from the party on our Facebook Page. HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:08:20 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#188 We have just been officially informed by the Association of American Geographers (AAG) that this year's AAG Lifetime Achievement Award goes to our own distinguished colleague and mentor Professor Kevin Cox. There is indeed no better news for OSU Geography than this kind of national level recognition of OSU geographers. This PDF shows the AAG Award Committee's citation for Kevin's accomplishments. Kevin's lifetime achievement award will be officially given to him at the Award Luncheon  during the 2012 AAG Annual Meeting in New York City (Feb. 28, noon-2pm).  If your schedule permits, we would like to encourage you to attend the award luncheon to show your support for and appreciation of Kevin's latest accomplishment. For more information about Kevin's latest work, please visit: Kevin Cox Faculty Details Congratulations, Kevin, and thank you for everything you have done for OSU Geography since 1966. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:01:49 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#187 OSU College of Arts & Sciences feature news story about college faculty selected as U.S. Fulbright Scholars. Our own Darla Munroe, associate professor, Department of Geography, for "Comparative Forest Transitions in Rural Peripheries" at Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany, September 2011-February 2012. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:27:45 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#186 We are pleased to announce that two OSU students affiliated with the Department of Geography have been selected for next fall's (Sept 2012 ) National Geographic Society Internship program. This is wonderful news especially because only approximately 8-10 students are selected nationwide per term (according to the NGS website). Alex Eddy is a second-year Master's student working with Dr. Bryan Mark. Meredith Krueger is an undergraduate Economics major and Geography Minor, and she is currently working with Dr. Darla Munroe on an honor thesis. Both Alex and Meredith will graduate in Spring 2012. Please join us in congratulating Alex and Meredith and wishing them well in their travels to DC next fall!. On another note, Alex Eddy also recently placed with her "Lost City, Lonely Dog" photo in the 2011 International Photography Competition, see photo here. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:15:22 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#185 OSU Graduate School just informed us that one of our Ph.D. students Seung-Ook Lee(advisor: Joel Wainwright) is the recepient of this year's OSU Presidential Fellowship. This fellowship recognizes outstanding scholarship and research ability, plus provides recipients with the opportunity to devote full time to their dissertation research. The Presidential Fellowship is the most competitive and prestigious scholarly recognition provided by OSU Graduate School for full-time graduate students at OSU. We are indeed very proud for Seung-Ook's accomplishments. Congratulations! Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:50:46 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#184 Dear Geographers, With Jerry Dobson's keynote talk yesterday at the Ohio Union, we concluded our 3rd annual Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day celebration spreading over the past three days. This year's celebration was led by Desheng Liu and the 2011 GAW/GIS Day ad hoc committee - members include Rick McClish, Wenqin Chen, Colin Kelsey, James Bagiski, Becca Zak, Nathan Patrick, Lili Wang, Young Rae Choi, Lindsey Higgins, Kiril Vatev, Haixia Liu, Wei Chen, and Rachel Mauk.  Desheng and his committee had worked very hard during the past two months to put this year's fantastic program together. This year's GAW/GIS celebration also featured an open house of the Byrd Polar Research Center (BPRC).  Our colleagues affiliated with BPRC deserve our special thanks and appreciation for their efforts to promote geography, in particular let's thank Ellen Mosley-Thompson, David Bromwich, Jason Box, and Byran Mark for their talks and hospitality during the open house.  I should also point out that Bryan Mark is the one and only faculty member who has made presentations during the past three GAW/GIS celebrations. Thanks are also due to Lili Wang who helped designing the program fliers.  The following students helped posting fliers to various places on campus: Christine Biermann, Shanshan Cai, Xiang Chen, Young Rae Choi, Justine Law Rachel Mauk, Zoe Pearson, John Rainey, Tim Shannon, Kiril Vatev, Lili Wang, and Sandy Wong.  Kudos to you all for the excellent team work!    Daniel Sui Professor & Chair See more pictures from this years GAW on the Department Facebook Page. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:34:09 -0500 http://www.geography.osu.edu/news-and-events#183