Postcard from Mesoamerica
As Geography research begins in the field and ends in the field, so does my Presidential Column. I had the good fortune to be able to compose most of my first column (July 2018) during my fieldwork in Belize and Guatemala in Central America. Now I am filing my final column as your AAG President…
Geography, Green Resolutions, and Graduation
Complex organizations have complex interests and responsibilities, especially in the 21st century. My October 2018 Column reminded us to keep our eyes on the prize of equity for all. Together, we Geographers have worked diligently over the last several years to shine a light on equity and banish harassment and bullying from our meetings, our…
Harassment-Free AAG: Moving Forward
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In civil society, we measure our words and deeds, and listen to others’ ideas and opinions. We set our expectations for civil discourse not necessarily based on a minimum expectation of the law, but…
Harassment-Free AAG: What to expect at the Washington D.C. Meeting
I am excited to write that there are four weeks to go in our countdown to the AAG Annual Meetings in Washington DC (April 3-7, 2019). I welcome guest columnist Dr. Lorraine Dowler, who has been a prior contributor to this space, and this month we highlight Climate Change to which we can all contribute…
AAG Election Underway and Looking Forward to the Annual Meeting in Washington DC in April!
The AAG election season is underway! This week, AAG members around the globe received email links to log on and vote for 2019-2020 AAG officers and committee members. Balloting is open from 30 January to 21 February, so please remember to take a few minutes to dig out that email, vote, and be heard! I…
Share Your Science, and Make a Difference with Geography at the AAG Annual Meeting in April 2019
Happy New Year, Geographers and Friends of Geography! There is still much for us, as fellow AAG Members, to do and to accomplish, and what better month than January to re-commit ourselves to serving people and the planet, when we celebrate Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. It is hard to believe we…
Regional Divisions Announce Outstanding Graduate Student Papers During their Fall Meetings
The AAG is proud to announce the Fall 2018 student winners of the AAG Council Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Paper at a Regional Meeting. The AAG Council Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Paper at a Regional Meeting is designed to encourage graduate student participation at AAG Regional Division conferences and support their attendance at AAG…
The Chesapeake Bay: Destruction and Rehabilitation in the Nation’s Largest Estuary
It’s another drizzly day on the Chesapeake, and the boat we are on bobs gently on the opaque, mud-colored water. A crusty old crabber from Tangier Island, by the nickname of Captain Cook (use of nicknames is an old and strong tradition on Tangier), has just dropped a scraper overboard and brought up a bunch…
Paradise Lost, Global Warming Report, and Geographers Speak Up
The 2019 Annual Meeting of the AAG is shaping up, and I thank those who responded to participate in the three featured themes, Health and GIScience, Human Rights, and Physical Geography in Environmental Science, in addition to the many independent abstracts and sessions submitted. Program committees and AAG staff, to whom I offer my deepest…
AAG Announces Launch of Geography.com for 2018 Geography Awareness Week
The American Association of Geographers (AAG) is pleased to announce the launch of in conjunction with the celebration of Geography Awareness Week, November 11-17, 2018. The website is a joint venture and collaboration between the AAG and Esri, designed for educational purposes and the promotion of the discipline. is intended as an outreach tool for…
Watershed Moments
It is time to show our democracy, our humanity, our compassion, and our resolve. It is time to say no to the murders of journalists, worshippers in synagogues, African American churchgoers, schoolchildren, theatergoers, yoga practitioners, and disco dancers. It is time to VOTE. Please take a moment of silence for all victims of ever-senseless and…
Get Involved in Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day
Geography Awareness Week is just around the corner, November 11th - 17th, with GIS Day on November 14th. Below you’ll find GeoWeek and GIS Day resources, announcements, and ways to get involved, big and small. Do what you can to promote our wonderful discipline during OUR week of the year! Focus on the Theme: The…