| News for geographers |  |
| Geography in Action |  |  |
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- Why the world has to increase its food reserves
 One recent report found that the world is expected to consume more food than it produces during 2012-13, notes Evan Fraser, an associate professor of geography at the University of Guelph in Canada. It can be difficult for poorer countries to save up food, but doing so appears to be a necessity, he writes. "Since virtually no one expects the weather over the next few decades to be as accommodating as in the past, we need to take the opportunity now to build up our reserves," he writes. CNN/Global Public Square blog
(9/27)     
- Research sheds new light on Lake Michigan's dunes
Research has shown that dunes along the northern and northeastern shores of Lake Michigan are much younger than previously thought. On average, the dunes are about 1,000 years old, according to Alan Arbogast, a Michigan State University geographer. "That means those sands are much more sensitive than we thought and can move easily and quickly," he said. The Holland Sentinel (Mich.)
(9/30)
- Geographer tracks changes to Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers
Nicolas Cullen, a geographer at the University of Otago in New Zealand, has worked with a colleague to trace the shrinking of Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers between 1912 and 2011. During a recent trip, he noted that one of the glaciers had split in half. "There is now a passage you can walk through that is ice-free for possibly the first time in 10,000 years," he said. Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
(10/4)
 | Dust Bowl National Youth Summit:
On October 17, 2012, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and WETA Television are offering a unique opportunity to engage middle and high school students in a national dialogue with renowned filmmaker Ken Burns and environmental experts to discuss contemporary environmental issues and the legacy of the Dust Bowl. REGISTER HERE |
| Research, Education and Global Change | | |
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- Using maps to understand incarceration rates
Officials in cities such as New Haven, Conn., are using maps prepared by the Justice Mapping Center to better understand incarceration rates in their areas. The center maps the residential addresses of inmates and identifies census blocks where more than $1 million is being dedicated to incarcerate residents. "In all honesty, what we mapped was not a big surprise to people," said Eric Cadora, the center's director. "But when you actually gather the real data ... on maps, [it becomes] immediately understandable to people who didn't see it -- like legislators, city council people, researchers." National Public Radio (text and audio)/WNPR-FM (Hartford, Conn.)
(10/2)
- How economic factors are affecting Africa's urbanization
A lack of jobs has slowed urbanization in Africa, according to Deborah Potts, a demographer at King's College London. Some people are migrating from cities to rural areas because they are unable to find work. Most of the continent's "urban population growth comes from natural increase in the cities and not from migration," she said. AlertNet
(9/28)
| Technology and Applications | | |
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- GIS class helps Va. students solve real-world problems
Students in the Geospatial Semester class at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Va., are putting their skills to the test as they use geographic information systems mapping software to conduct research. One student studied the environmental and demographic impact a new Metro line would have on the Washington, D.C., area. "Students who do real-life problem-solving projects that help real people become very engaged in learning because their learning has a purpose," said Ryan Miller, teacher of the class. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education
(9/27)
| Association News | | |
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AAG receives NSF grant to improve K-12 teacher preparation
The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant to the AAG for a "Geo-Capabilities" project to determine how geography contributes to the overall capabilities of K-12 students. AAG will conduct collaborative transatlantic research initially by geography educators in the United States, the United Kingdom and Finland. Learn more.
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The Arroyo Seco, rockets, and the growth of Los Angeles
"Whether it was for the idyllic landscapes such as the Arroyo, or the industry that was born in the Arroyo, Los Angeles has grown by capturing the imagination of millions," writes Lorne Platt. In this column from the "AAG Newsletter," Platt attributes the origin of Los Angeles' growth, at least in part, to the Arroyo Seco and a group of students who attempted to test a rocket motor in the 1930s. Read more.
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