Nov. 16, 2021–Colleges, universities, and schools across the country and right here at home will celebrate Geography Awareness Week Nov. 14-20, 2021. Established by presidential proclamation in 1987, Geography Awareness Week celebrates the study of the Earth and human communities—and the important possibilities that these studies unlock. This year’s theme chosen by the American Association of Geographers is “The Future Is Here,” highlighting the urgency and energy of geographers’ work on topics ranging from public health to climate change to society.
Missouri Western State University kicked off Geography Awareness Week with a celebration on Friday November 12th, featuring Mayor Bill McMurray. Other events include:
- Mapathon to benefit the American Red Cross, 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 16. No experience with maps needed! We will show you what to do. You can help improve maps for first responders in disaster areas. Sign-up at griff.vn/Mapathon to participate in person in Remington 108 or via Zoom.
- GIS Day speakers, Wednesday, Nov. 17. Celebrate GIS Day 2021 and Geography Awareness Week with two speakers who use geospatial analysis in their professional and academic lives.
- Dr. David Manning, University of Nebraska – Omaha, “Water Quality Across Ecosystem Boundaries in the Great Plains and Beyond,” 6 p.m., Agenstein 224, sponsored by Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society.
- Konner Larkin, Missouri Western State University, “Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest: Fuels Monitoring with Terrestrial LiDAR,” 7 p.m., Agenstein 324, sponsored by MWSU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
- Brown Bag Lunch event, 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, Agenstein 224. Bring your lunch and join undergraduates from the Department of Geography at the University of Central Arkansas, Marisol Filares presenting, “Visual Identification of Soybean Irrigation Status with RBG Drone Imagery and the VARI Index” and Paul Seminara presenting, “Identifying the Effects of Climatic and Socioeconomic Variables on the Spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas.” Presentation will be face-to-face, but you can register for Zoom access at griff.vn/GIF
All events are free and open to the public. To find out more, contact Dr. Dawn Drake at 816-271-4161 or ddrake4@missouriwestern.edu.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.