Past University Visiting Scholars

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Robert W. Christopherson, "The Power of Geographic Science in a Time of Global Change."
September 28, 2006 7:05-8:20 p.m. Seaton 63

Robert W. Christopherson is the author of the leading physical geography texts, including Geosystems (now in its 6th edition), and Elemental Geosystems (5th edition), published by Prentice Hall. Dynamic geographic science is essential to synthesizing a complete understanding of the complexity we face. Author, teacher, Robert Christopherson highlights a few examples demonstrating the explanatory power of geography and his systems approach to teaching, including the 2005 hurricane season and related science. Then, he reports on the latest climate change science, highlighted with scenes from the polar regions and discussion of the scientific consensus. He and his photographer wife just returned from an expedition to Spitsbergen Island (Svalbard Archipelago) in the Arctic Ocean, where they spent 15 days studying pack ice and polar bears. They have visited the Arctic and Antarctic regions 6 times since 2003, gathering material for Robert's physical geography textbooks.

 

Dawn Wright, "Spatial Reasoning at Sea and Ashore:  Progress and Challenges of Ocean Informatics."
October 25, 2006 1:30-2:20 p.m. Little Theater, KSU Student Union (VPAST Geospatial Technology Lecture Series)

Dawn Wright received her Ph.D. in Physical Geography and Marine Geology from the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1994. She is currently professor of Geography and Oceanography at Oregon State University.  Dr. Wright's research interests include geographic information science, benthic terrain and habitat characterization, tectonics of mid-ocean ridges, and the processing and interpretation of high-resolution bathymetry and underwater videography/photography.  She has completed oceanographic fieldwork in some of the most geologically-active regions of the planet, including the East Pacific Rise, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Juan de Fuca Ridge, the Tonga Trench, and volcanoes under the Japan Sea and the Indian Ocean. Dr. Wright has dived three times in the deep submergence vehicle "Alvin" and twice in the "Pisces V." She serves on the editorial boards of the "International Journal of Geographical Information Science," "Transactions in GIS," and "Geospatial Solutions," as well as on the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Geophysical and Environmental Data.  Dr. Wright is also a National Councillor for the Association of American Geographers and Research Vice-Chair for the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science. Her most recent books include "Undersea with GIS" (published by ESRI Press, 2002), "Marine and Coastal Geographical Information Systems" (with Darius Bartlett, Taylor & Francis, 2000), and "Place Matters: Geospatial Tools for Marine Science, Conservation, and Management in the Pacific Northwest" (with Astrid Scholz, Oregon State University Press, 2005).

Dr. Wright has received the Milton Harris Award in Basic Research from the OSU College of Science, a Fulbright grant (to Ireland), an NSF CAREER award, Excellence in Mentoring awards from the OSU College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, the Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs Education Award, and Woman of the Year in Education from Clarity magazine.

 

List of Past Colloquia and Other Presentations

 

Dr. Matthew Rice, "Haptic and Auditory Design Guidelines for Multimodal Map Interfaces."
November 30, 2006 4:00-5:00 pm Union 207

Dr. Rice is a post-doctoral research fellow with the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis at the University of California - Santa Barbara.

 

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Patricia Solis, "Heuristics, Serendipity, and Enlightened Opportunism: Making a Difference through Geography."
November 17, 2006 3:30-4:20 pm Little Theater KSU Student Union

Distinguished KSU Geography Alumnus Patricia Solis (M.A., Geography, 1996) currently serves as Director of Research and Outreach for the Association of American Geographers, stationed in Panama.  Her presentation coincides with National Geography Awareness Week.

 

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Dr. Isaac Brewer, "Exploring the Intersections of Emergency Management, Intelligence Analysis and GIScience: A Cognitive Systems Engineering Approach Using Nightmare Scenarios."
November 14, 2006 4:00-5:00 pm Union 207

Dr. Brewer is a research associate with the GeoVista Center at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.

 

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Rhett Mohler, "Historical Channel Change of Vermillion Creek, Kansas, 1857-2002."
November 10, 2006 3:30-4:20 pm Seaton 132

Rhett Mohler is a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at Kansas State University.  His presentation will relate aspects of his previous M.A. thesis research.

 

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Dr. Xuwei Chen, "Agent-based Microsimulation of Evacuation Strategies."
November 6, 2006 4:00-5:00 pm Union 212

Dr. Chen is a researcher with the Texas Center for Geographic Information Science located at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

 

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Peg Margosian, "Connectivity of the American Agricultural Landscape:  A Graph Approach."
October 27, 2006 2:30-3:20 pm Seaton 132

Peg Margosian is a Geographer with USDA APHIS PPQ CPHST, which is the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine Division (PPQ), Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST).  The Department of Geography is delighted to be hosting Peg in the Geographic Information Systems Spatial Analysis Laboratory (GISSAL).

 

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Jacob Sowers, "An Exploration of Jackrabbit Homesteading."
September 15, 2006 2:30-4:00 pm Seaton 132

Jacob Sowers is a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at Kansas State University.  His presentation will relate aspects of his ongoing Ph.D. dissertation research.

 

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Matthew Gerike, "Rethinking Historiographies of Geography:  Notes on the Continuous Construction of Geographical Knowledge."
September 1, 2006 2:30-4:00 pm Seaton 132

Matthew Gerike is a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at Kansas State University.  He will present a proposal of his anticipated Ph.D. dissertation research.