CityLab: The Geography of America’s Mobile and ‘Stuck,’ Mapped - The United States is facing a new class distinction: those who are mobile across state lines, and those who are stuck.
The Atlantic: The Geography of Partisan Prejudice - "A guide to the most—and least—politically open-minded counties in America" It is not pretty.
Genealogy Today: School girls helped map America - "One of the first “schoolgirl maps” was drawn in 1823 by Frances Henshaw, a student at Middlebury (Vermont) Female Academy. The map is in Henshaw’s Book of Penmanship. Highlighting 19 states, she included details about not only geography, but also astronomy, comets, meridians, horizons, polar circles and climate zones."
SlapItOnAMap.com - "Welcome to Slap It On A Map! If you've ever wondered if the the Titanic would fit in your neighborhood or how big Greenland really is, you've come to the right place. My name is Greg Lesher. I yearned to slap things on a map, so I created this site." I'm not sure how educators might use the site, but it looks fun.
Thread: Songs with One or More Map Lyrics - Gretchen Peterson and friends make a list.
Spatial.ly: How the Victorians Mapped London’s Cholera - James Cheshire takes a look.
ArcUser: Six Ways to Increase Geoliteracy - My colleague Joseph Kerksi shares his list.
Twitter: A thread on the 2020 Census questionnaire.
Sketchplanations: Coastline Pardox - The length of a coasts depends on the scale at which you look at it.
Natural Hazards Center (University of Colorado): Making Connections - The team announced "a major update to our online listing and interactive mapping portal of university-based hazards and disaster research centers. This Global Hazards and Disaster Research Centers Map is designed to increase connections, communication, collaboration, and access to emerging research both within and across nations."
The LA Times: From video game to day job: How ‘SimCity’ inspired a generation of city planners - I'd offer that Minecraft is the current game filling that role. Via Bill Dollins.
Geo Lounge: With Only Numbers and No Street Names, This Norwegian Town is Confusing Tourists
- A fascinating case study. What can we learn from this "experiment"? Do the same issues impact something like What3Words?
The Bartlett, UCL: What can Maps Tell Us About Society? - "Professor Laura Vaughan's spatial analysis of historical maps has uncovered a depth, nuance and texture to the city often missing from pure statistical data." The Bartlett is UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment; this is first I've heard of it. It's 100 years old his year and this post is one of 100 planned as part of the celebration.
Directions Magazine: What Does It Mean to be a Youthful and Active GIS Professional These Days? - Diana Sinton interview some URISA Vanguard Cabinet members.
Podcast: Two old guys talk about new spatial technology - James Fee and Bill Dollins chat.
Esri: The World Country Flags Game - Esri's Applications Prototype Lab built the game.
On and Off Campus
The Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle: Westslope High name wrong, ignores local geography - The author notes that Bozeman is not on the west slope.
UT San Antonio: Neil Debbage researches how urban residents can become more resilient to extreme heat and flooding - Neil Debbage, an assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability, in the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography researches urban climatology, natural hazards and sustainability.
The University of Chicago: Partnership across UChicago explores intersection of technology, creativity and research - The Media Arts, Data and Design Center at the John Crerar Library serves as a new collaborative space for experimentation, discovery and impact. Among its resources is the "GIS Hub, enabling geospatial research and learning activities by providing access to geographical information systems software and hardware and an expert GIS and maps librarian who offers consultations and training."
Seven Days: On Open Data Day, Learning Humanitarian Mapping With Code for BTV - Open Data Day at Burlington Vermont's City Hall Auditorium featured mapping. The event was cohosted by the University of Vermont's Humanitarian Mapping Club and Code for BTV, the local "brigade" of Code for America. About twenty citizens came out to help with some HOTOSM tasks.
Nexus: Know Your Profs: Geography Instructor Trisha Jarrett on the importance of prioritizing student mental health - The professor at Camusun Community College (Victoria, British Columbia) discusses breakfast for dinner, volcanoes, and her frustration over lack of staples.
Programs, Degrees and Professional Development
Klamath Community College: KCC board approves three new associate degrees - "The Laboratory Technician Associate of Applied Science will prepare graduates for exciting careers in research or in fieldwork." The press release explains it includes a course in "global information systems (GIS), a mapping computer used to spatially organize data to better understand patterns and relationships. GIS is used in several industries today — ranging from community health monitoring to weather mapping. According to [natural resources faculty member] Eleazar [Gutierrez], understanding spatial maps and/or being able to create them with collected data is necessity in today’s medical and natural resource industries." I contacted Eleazar Gutierrez; he said he was unable to make any corrections.
TSPR: WIU Program Elimination Review Committee Makes Recommendations - Supporters argue the small GIS program has important reach across the university. “GIS has its fingers spread across the university. Law Enforcement uses GIS. Agriculture uses GIS. Geology, of course, uses GIS. Geographic Information Science is something that is needed all over the place.” A committee is currently reviewing the proposed elimination of Geography and GIS and other programs and the merging of others.
The Suffolk Journal: Professor inspires student's passion for drones - Professor Scott Lussier of Suffolk University’s Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES) teaches GIS and maintains the school's GIS laboratory on campus. Now he's at work growing a drone program. There are currently seven drone related courses and he hopes to integrate their user across the curriculum, including in journalism. I was not aware Suffolk University, based here in Boston, had GIS courses, let alone a drone program.
Loyola Phoenix (Loyola University of Chicago): The Case for More Loyola Geography Classes - The student opinion editor makes the case. I was not aware Loyola also calls its school paper The Phoenix, just like the University of Chicago does.
National Geographic: Micro-credentials - The organization has ten micro-crentials related to geographic thinking and service learning. The "courses" are all free.
Esri: T3G 2019 - T3G "is a synchronous online event, with four hours on each of two consecutive Saturdays (July 20 and July 27). Participants need to arrive already comfortable with the fundamentals of using ArcGIS Online, teaching with technology, and providing professional development. T3G 2019 will help participants merge the three." There are 60 seats open for this free event.
SlapItOnAMap.com - "Welcome to Slap It On A Map! If you've ever wondered if the the Titanic would fit in your neighborhood or how big Greenland really is, you've come to the right place. My name is Greg Lesher. I yearned to slap things on a map, so I created this site." I'm not sure how educators might use the site, but it looks fun.
Thread: Songs with One or More Map Lyrics - Gretchen Peterson and friends make a list.
Spatial.ly: How the Victorians Mapped London’s Cholera - James Cheshire takes a look.
ArcUser: Six Ways to Increase Geoliteracy - My colleague Joseph Kerksi shares his list.
Twitter: A thread on the 2020 Census questionnaire.
Sketchplanations: Coastline Pardox - The length of a coasts depends on the scale at which you look at it.
Natural Hazards Center (University of Colorado): Making Connections - The team announced "a major update to our online listing and interactive mapping portal of university-based hazards and disaster research centers. This Global Hazards and Disaster Research Centers Map is designed to increase connections, communication, collaboration, and access to emerging research both within and across nations."
The LA Times: From video game to day job: How ‘SimCity’ inspired a generation of city planners - I'd offer that Minecraft is the current game filling that role. Via Bill Dollins.
Geo Lounge: With Only Numbers and No Street Names, This Norwegian Town is Confusing Tourists
- A fascinating case study. What can we learn from this "experiment"? Do the same issues impact something like What3Words?
The Bartlett, UCL: What can Maps Tell Us About Society? - "Professor Laura Vaughan's spatial analysis of historical maps has uncovered a depth, nuance and texture to the city often missing from pure statistical data." The Bartlett is UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment; this is first I've heard of it. It's 100 years old his year and this post is one of 100 planned as part of the celebration.
Directions Magazine: What Does It Mean to be a Youthful and Active GIS Professional These Days? - Diana Sinton interview some URISA Vanguard Cabinet members.
Podcast: Two old guys talk about new spatial technology - James Fee and Bill Dollins chat.
Esri: The World Country Flags Game - Esri's Applications Prototype Lab built the game.
The Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle: Westslope High name wrong, ignores local geography - The author notes that Bozeman is not on the west slope.
UT San Antonio: Neil Debbage researches how urban residents can become more resilient to extreme heat and flooding - Neil Debbage, an assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability, in the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography researches urban climatology, natural hazards and sustainability.
The University of Chicago: Partnership across UChicago explores intersection of technology, creativity and research - The Media Arts, Data and Design Center at the John Crerar Library serves as a new collaborative space for experimentation, discovery and impact. Among its resources is the "GIS Hub, enabling geospatial research and learning activities by providing access to geographical information systems software and hardware and an expert GIS and maps librarian who offers consultations and training."
Seven Days: On Open Data Day, Learning Humanitarian Mapping With Code for BTV - Open Data Day at Burlington Vermont's City Hall Auditorium featured mapping. The event was cohosted by the University of Vermont's Humanitarian Mapping Club and Code for BTV, the local "brigade" of Code for America. About twenty citizens came out to help with some HOTOSM tasks.
Nexus: Know Your Profs: Geography Instructor Trisha Jarrett on the importance of prioritizing student mental health - The professor at Camusun Community College (Victoria, British Columbia) discusses breakfast for dinner, volcanoes, and her frustration over lack of staples.
Programs, Degrees and Professional Development
Klamath Community College: KCC board approves three new associate degrees - "The Laboratory Technician Associate of Applied Science will prepare graduates for exciting careers in research or in fieldwork." The press release explains it includes a course in "global information systems (GIS), a mapping computer used to spatially organize data to better understand patterns and relationships. GIS is used in several industries today — ranging from community health monitoring to weather mapping. According to [natural resources faculty member] Eleazar [Gutierrez], understanding spatial maps and/or being able to create them with collected data is necessity in today’s medical and natural resource industries." I contacted Eleazar Gutierrez; he said he was unable to make any corrections.
TSPR: WIU Program Elimination Review Committee Makes Recommendations - Supporters argue the small GIS program has important reach across the university. “GIS has its fingers spread across the university. Law Enforcement uses GIS. Agriculture uses GIS. Geology, of course, uses GIS. Geographic Information Science is something that is needed all over the place.” A committee is currently reviewing the proposed elimination of Geography and GIS and other programs and the merging of others.
The Suffolk Journal: Professor inspires student's passion for drones - Professor Scott Lussier of Suffolk University’s Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES) teaches GIS and maintains the school's GIS laboratory on campus. Now he's at work growing a drone program. There are currently seven drone related courses and he hopes to integrate their user across the curriculum, including in journalism. I was not aware Suffolk University, based here in Boston, had GIS courses, let alone a drone program.
Loyola Phoenix (Loyola University of Chicago): The Case for More Loyola Geography Classes - The student opinion editor makes the case. I was not aware Loyola also calls its school paper The Phoenix, just like the University of Chicago does.
National Geographic: Micro-credentials - The organization has ten micro-crentials related to geographic thinking and service learning. The "courses" are all free.
Esri: T3G 2019 - T3G "is a synchronous online event, with four hours on each of two consecutive Saturdays (July 20 and July 27). Participants need to arrive already comfortable with the fundamentals of using ArcGIS Online, teaching with technology, and providing professional development. T3G 2019 will help participants merge the three." There are 60 seats open for this free event.
USGIF: USGIF Accredits New University GEOINT Program - The new accredited program is from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, IUP. The school offers undergraduate and graduate GEOINT certificates.
Esri and partner the University of Cambridge/British Antarctic Survey are working together on the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks (AI4ER). The program is accepting applications from prospective students for ten 4-year studentships starting in October 2019 (1 year Masters + 3 years PhD). Application deadline: 31st March 2019. Via Dawn Wright.
Esri and partner the University of Cambridge/British Antarctic Survey are working together on the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks (AI4ER). The program is accepting applications from prospective students for ten 4-year studentships starting in October 2019 (1 year Masters + 3 years PhD). Application deadline: 31st March 2019. Via Dawn Wright.
ArcWatch: A Creek Runs Through It - Penn State's first Master of Professional Studies in Geodesign graduate explains his capstone project.
Awards
NEGIS announced its 2019 scholarship winners:
- Bryce Stouffer, Clark University
- Erika Welch, University Massachusetts Boston
- Amanda Payton, Clark University
MOOCs
Forbes: Why Goodwill (Not Udacity, EdX Or Coursera) May Be The World's Biggest MOOC - The author, who works at Kaplan University Partners, is a bit confused about what a MOOC is and what a MOOC hosting company is. He introduces Goodwill's online tutorials, which look great. They are not, however, MOOCs. Via Ray Charbenneau.
Esri offers Cartography. and Earth Imagery at Work starting April10. These free six week long courses explores the topics and include hands on exercises with ArcGIS Pro. All software is provided without cost for the duration of the courses and students may work on the material at their convenience.
Opportunities
Hexagon: Participate in the Geospatial EDU Contest for HxGN LIVE 2019 - Students and faculty doing research at universities using Hexagon tools can compete for free registration and funds toward travel to the HxGN event in Las Vegas in June. Required "social media" activities that once were required of winners are no longer in effect.
Reminder: The GeoTech Center's Geospatial Technology Skills Competition for college students submissions are due tomorrow. An e-mail with lots of red in it crossed my desk today. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the way to "encourage" participation in these contests is to have instructors "assign" the project and then suggest or require that students submit their work.
Land Portal: Data Story Contest - The contest from The Netherlands-based non-profit is for data stories on specific topics. Winners received money and travel to the organization's conference. No specific tech is required, and any of the story mapping apps would qualify best I can tell. Deadline: April 30. Via Brent Jones.
The image at right is a post by a student on LinkedIn. It's great the student attended the conference and choose to share that fact on social media. I want to suggest a way to make this sort of post more valuable for those reading it and for the student posting. (These suggestions could also be be used by those covering conferences for blogs or media outlets.)
Please share reflections on the event. I'd aim for three. Here are some prompts to help you identify them:
- What did you learn at the event?
- Did you identify any trends or make any new connections between ideas and/or technologies?
- What do you want to learn more about based on what your experience? Why?
- What surprised or excited you?
- What was boring? Why?
- Who did you meet that was interesting? What was interesting about them or their work?
- What activity did you undertake already that was prompted by the event?
- Did you bring a burning question to the event? Did you get any sort of answer? Discuss.
- Was it worth the time and energy to come? Why or why not?