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NEWS - Read the Spring 2007 Geography Newsletter
Geographers Attend AAG Meeting in San Francisco
Geography Major Jenny Wrye with the poster she entered at AAG
In April, members of the HSU Geography Department participated in the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) in San Francisco. Participants included faculty members Mark Baker, Paul Blank, Stephen Cunha, and Joy Adams and students Angela Crane, Kathy Dicker, and Jenny Wrye. A record 6,500 geographers attended this meeting, which was directed by '01 HSU Geography alumnus Oscar Larson.
Assistant Professor Joy Adams presented a paper entitled "Conjunto culture: Celebration and racialization in the German-Texan 'borderlands.'" She also participated in a panel discussion entitled "Ethnic Geography Researchers 'Giving Back,'" to share her recent experiences with participatory research and service learning at HSU. Joy was re-elected to a second term on the board of directors of the Ethnic Geography Specialty Group, having previously served one term as the board's student representative.Assistant Professor Mark Baker presented a paper entitled "The Kuhls of Kangra: A Critical Analysis of Enduring Community-Based Irrigation Regimes in the Western Himalaya."Professor Paul Blank had approximately 50 geographers participate in his "Big Maps" display, in which participants have the chance to walk on a room-sized composite map of various world regions. He also presented a paper entitled "Shifting Orientations in Mediterranean History."
Geography major Jenny Wrye presented a poster based on her senior field research project, "Investigating Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness Organizations in Humboldt County, CA."
The new Humboldt chapter of Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG) organized a breakfast for members of SWIG groups throughout the U.S. and internationally. Nine geographers participated in a lively discussion, representing departments in Texas (2 universities), Arizona, British Columbia, and Scotland.Chris Haynes Named Outstanding Educator
HSU Geography professor and alumni Christopher Haynes was named Outstanding Educator by the California Geographic Society at its 61st annual conference, which was held March 16-18 in Borrego Springs, CA. This prestigious award recognizes one outstanding geography instructor from a field of kindergarten through university educators. Haynes joins an impressive list of past recipients including professors from the University of California.
According to comments included with his nomination, “Haynes is the Pied Piper of geography.” One commentator noted, “He is the best field geographer I have been around in my forty plus years of teaching. His abilities to interpret landscapes are simply first rate. Chris is one of the very best instructors I’ve seen. He has backpacked in every inch of Northern California.”
Professor Cunha Honored by Social Studies Council
The California Council for Social Studies recently honored HSU Geography Professor Stephen Cunha with the Hilda Taba Award at their Annual Meeting in Oakland. Named for a renowned pioneer in critical thinking and social studies concept development, the Taba Award is the highest honor bestowed by the CCSS. It recognizes enduring professional contributions over time that significantly influences social studies education in California.
Geography Students Travel to Tibet
During the summer of 2006, 13 HSU students and Geography lecture Tony Rossi continued a six year tradition of traveling and studying in China and Tibet. Read the 2006 Eureka Reporter article about their adventure.
Geography major Aaron Salles and friends in Tibet July 2006
HSU Geography Department lecturer Chris Haynes and 20 geography students spent a beautiful October weekend exploring Lava Beds National Monument. The Geography field studies class, joined by geography professors Dennis Fitzsimons and Joy Adams, explored caves and learned about the geography and history of the Lava Beds area. A wide variety of both physical and cultural topics including water resources, Japanese internment camps, the Modoc Indian war and agricultural patters were covered as well as plenty of time to explore the hundreds of miles of lava tubes in the national monument. The Geography Department offers a one-unit field experience every semester.
Geography Career Day 2006
Geography Alumni John Bissell ('88) and Cynthia Tarwater ('91) presented their work and answered questions at the 2006 Geography Career Day in April. John is a principal with Higa Burkholder Associates, a Land Use Planning and Engineering Firm with offices in Everett , Washington and Springfield Oregon. They work on diverse projects from municipal project review and comprehensive planning and to private commercial and residential developments. Cynthia is a project coordinator with the Trinity County Resource Conservation District. Her work is concentrated in the South Fork of the Trinity River working on USFS road upgrades and decommissioning projects.
Geographers Meet in Utah
HSU geographers traveled to Salt Lake City to attend the 25th anniversary meeting of the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) October 12-15th, 2005. Geography Department lab manager and lecturer Mary Beth Cunha accompanied students Cassie Hansen, Kevin McManigal, Joseph Russavage and Miles Eggleston, who attended information sessions and entered maps and posters in the student competition. They were joined at the meeting by HSU alumni Stephen Stringall, Melissa Katz-Moye, Nathaniel Haas and Nathaniel Kelso. All of these alumni are currently pursuing careers as cartographers. Mary Beth Cunha was elected to the NACIS board of directors at this meeting.
Back row: Nathanial Haas, Kevin McManigal, Miles Eggleston, Nathaniel Kelso, Stephen Stringall. Front row: Mary Beth Cunha, Melissa Katz-Move, Cassie Hansen, Joseph Russavage
Geography students are joined by Rasta Bigfoot on a geography field trip held in late September. (GEOG 469 Geog Field Experience)
Workshop for local students Local GATE students work with a teacher in the Geography Department KOSMOS lab. Senior Kaitlin Yarnall led the workshop in Spring 2005.
Julia Uhlendorf '04 and Al Wanger '85 talk with students at the 2005 HSU Geography Department Career Day.
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