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Geography Newsletter, Department Of Geography

Geography Newsletter

Contents:
2013 Year in Review [Page] 2
New Faculty Spotlight [Page] 3
Move to Wecota Hall [Page] 4
Dr. Janet Gritzner to Retire [Page] 5
Wetland Survey [Page] 6
Fulbright Student Scholar in Residence [Page] 7
Geography Club at Hobo Day [Page] 7
Regional Meeting of the AAG [Page] 8
Geography Alumni Spotlight [Page] 9
South Dakota Geographic Alliance [Page] 10
Geography Awareness Week 2013 [Page] 11
Bringing the World to South Dakota [Page] 12-13
44th Annual Geography Convention [Page] 14-15
Community Updates: Alumni [Page]16
Geography Alumni Spotlight [Page] 17
From the Foundation [Page] 17
Building relationships in Burkina Faso …

The Marine Heat Wave Off Western Australia During The Summer Of 2010/11 – 2 Years On, Nick Caputi, Gary Jackson, Alan Pearce

Fisheries Research Reports

This second workshop on the ‘Marine heat wave - 2 years on’ was held on 11 March 2013 about two years after the original event in the summer of 2010/11. The first workshop focused on the oceanographic conditions associated with the event as well as the short-term effects such as fish kill and southerly range extension of a number of tropical fish species. The second workshop concentrated on the oceanographic conditions since the workshop and the longer-term (2 years) effect on fisheries and the marine environment.

Stories To Live By, Martin Ogle

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Oh, for a story to explain the times we live in and guide us down saner paths! In the midst of ever-heightened awareness and concern about the unsustainable course of human society, we seem to be heading, with increasingly deadly speed, down an environmentally and societally destructive track. Laudable actions to change direction, or at least slow down, often seem to have the opposite effect. In this paradoxical predicament, we would do well to reexamine the subtly entrenched narratives that drive our individual and collective actions.

College Corner, Tim O’Connell

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Since 1981, the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University has been an established leader in undergraduate and graduate education. Brock is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, and sits atop the Niagara Escarpment, which was designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990. The Bruce Trail, which starts in nearby Queenston Heights Park, is a hiking path that runs through campus and nearby Shorthills Provincial Park to its terminus on the Tobermory Peninsula (over 890 km or 550 miles away). These resources, as well as other local, regional, and provincial “crown lands,” provide an appropriate backdrop …

State Drought Programs And Plans: Survey Of The Western United States, Matthew M. Fontaine, Anne C. Steinemann, Michael Hayes

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Drought preparedness programs are considered a primary defense against drought hazards. This article investigates state drought programs in the western United States, including a review of drought plans and interviews with state drought officials. While nearly all states have developed drought plans and larger drought programs, the scope and depth of these programs vary widely. State programs and plans typically address monitoring, declaration and response, and communication and coordination. Yet few states conduct postdrought assessments or impact and risk assessments. Resources tend to be allocated more for drought response than mitigation. Officials emphasized not only the importance of available monitoring …

Biological Synopsis Of Australian Herring (Arripis Georgianus), Kimberley A. Smith, Joshua Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

Arripis georgianus (‘Australian herring’) is targeted by commercial and recreational fishers in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA). Historically, A. georgianus has been the most commonly retained species of finfish taken by shore- and boat-based recreational fishers in the West Coast Bioregion (WCB) and South Coast Bioregion (SCB) (Smith et al. 2013a) (Fig. 1). The species is harvested by several commercial fisheries which use shore-based netting methods (beach seine, haul and gill nets). Historically, the vast majority of the commercial fishery catch has been taken by the herring ‘trap net’ fishery which operates on various beaches near Albany (SCB).

Critical Sustainability In Outdoor Education, Jeff Rose And Adrienne Cachelin

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The socioecological challenges we face have never been so complex, so intractable, and so urgent. And while both justice-oriented education and education for sustainability are growing in colleges and universities across the United States, normative perspectives of outdoor experiential education have fallen behind. In this paper, we offer critical sustainability as a conceptual basis for engaging students in the beauty, perversity, and complexity of our world. Critical sustainability, integrating sociopolitical systems of privilege and oppression with the socioecological imperatives of global health and justice, provides an exciting and promising pedagogical direction. With this conceptual framework, we explore perspectives of “nature,” …

What Is "American" In American Religion?, Rhys H. Williams, Sylvester Johnson, Kathryn Gin Lum

Sociology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

2012-2013 Annual Accountability Report: University Of South Florida St. Petersburg, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

Academic Learning Compacts

The 2012-2013 Annual Accountability Report for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg approved by the Board of Trustees on December 5, 2013 with revision in February 2014. Includes sections on financial resources, personnel, enrollment, undergraduate education, graduate education, and research and economic development.

Why Do Countries Adopt Constitutional Review?, Tom Ginsburg, Mila Versteeg

Articles

No abstract provided.

Ecodevelopment, Gender, And Empowerment: Perspectives From India’S Protected Area Communities, Ruchi Badola, Monica V. Ogra, Shivani C. Barthwal

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Book abstract:

Feminism has re-shaped the way we think about equality, power relations and social change. Recent feminist scholarship has provided new theoretical frameworks, methodologies and empirical analyses of how gender and feminism are situated within the development process.Global Perspectives on Gender and Space: Engaging Feminism and Development draws upon this framework to explore the effects of globalization on development in diverse geographical contexts. It explores how women’s and men’s lives are gendered in specific spaces as well as across multiple landscapes.

Temperature Changes In Central Asia From 1979 To 2011 Based On Multiple Datasets, Zengyun Hu, Chi Zhang, Q. Steven Hu, Hanqin Tian

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

The arid and semiarid region in central Asia is sensitive and vulnerable to climate variations. However, the sparse and highly unevenly distributed meteorological stations in the region provide limited data for understanding of the region’s climate variations. In this study, the near-surface air temperature change in central Asia from 1979 to 2011 was examined using observations from 81 meteorological stations, three local observation validated reanalysis datasets of relatively high spatial resolutions, and the Climate Research Unit (CRU) dataset. Major results suggested that the three reanalysis datasets match well with most of the local climate records, especially in the low-lying plain …

Factors That Influence Special Education Teacher Retention, Samantha Lou Henderson

Dissertations

In this study, the factors that influence special education teachers to remain in their profession for at least five years were identified and analyzed. The study involved a mixed-methods design including a survey and interviews with experienced special educators. The survey items and their categorizations as relational support or organizational factors were based upon Billingsley’s (2004) landmark research. The population consisted of special educators who remained in their current teaching positions for at least five years. The sample group for the survey included 35 veteran special educators from eight school districts in Missouri, and the stratified interview sample of five …

Report, Annual Accountability Report 2012-2013, February 2014, State University System Of Florida. Board Of Governors

Accountability Reports

The 2012-2013 annual accountability report for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Board of Trustees approved the report on December 5, 2013 with a revision in February 2014. The report is split into two sections: executive summary and data tables.

The Others’ Voice: Availing Other Disciplines’ Knowledge About Sustainable Impact Of Professional Development Programmes, Stefan Zehetmeier

The Mathematics Enthusiast

This paper deals with the sustainable impact of innovations and professional development programmes. While research on this issue is rather scarce in educational disciplines (and in particular in mathematics teacher education), some other domains like health care or development aid are well grounded in research results regarding this topic. This article gives an insight into the other disciplines’ knowledge concerning the impact of innovations and professional development programmes and the respective fostering and hindering factors. Moreover, possible implications for (mathematics) teacher education are discussed.

Passion And Conflict: Medieval Islamic Views Of The West, Karen C. Pinto

History Faculty Publications

This article analyzes the representation of al-Andalus and North Africa in medieval Islamic maps from the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries. In contrast to other maps of the Mediterranean, which display a veneer of harmony and balance, the image of the Maghrib is by deliberate design one of conflict and confusion; of love and hate; of male vs. female; of desire vs rejection. This paper interprets and explains the reasons behind the unusual depiction of Andalus and the Maghrib by medieval Islamic cartographers. In addition, this article develops a new methodology of interpreting medieval Islamic maps employing a deconstruction of …

Exploring Swiss-American Deep Ancestry: A Personal Venture Into Genetic Genealogy, J. Edward De Steiguer

Swiss American Historical Society Review

This article presents my personal experience with genetic genealogy, that is, the use of DNA analysis-in this case Y-DNA analysis-to trace the deep ancestry of my Swiss-American male line. DNA analysis is used today for countless applications, from the exoneration of inmates on death row to determination of paternity, as well as genetic genealogy (Fitzpatrick and Yeiser 2005). Such DNA "fingerprinting" is relatively new having begun in 1984 with the pioneering work of Sir Alec Jefferys and his group at Leicester University. One of the first important genetic genealogical applications of DNA analysis was that by Dr. Michael Hammer of …

Pseudokarst Commission Newsletter, No. 24, February 2014, Jan Urban

Pseudokarst Commission Newsletter

Contents: Sandstone Caves from Serra de Itaqueri (South-Eastern Brazil) -- Archimedovskaya Cave -- Caves of Ascension Island: An Introduction -- Water in the Caves of Polish Outer (Flysch) Carpathians (Beskidy Mountains) -- The Exploration of the Caves of the Polica Mountain Range, Polish Flysch (Outer) Carpathians -- Gobholo Cave: A Granit Cave in Swaziland -- "Pseudokarst" during the 16th International Congress of Speleology, Brno, July 21-28th, 2013 -- 13th International Symposium on Pseudokarst, Western Outer Carpathians, Czech Republic, 2015 -- Publications Associated with the Conference "Sandstone Landscapes III," 2012 -- Root Stalagmites in Austria: An Update -- Editorial

A Long View Of Polluting Industry And Environmental Justice In Baltimore, Christopher G. Boone, Michail Fragkias, Geoffrey L. Buckley, J. Morgan Grove

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

This study examines the density of polluting industry by neighborhoods in Baltimore over the long term, from 1950 to 2010, to determine if high pollution burdens correspond spatially with expected demographic and housing variables predicted in the environmental justice literature. For 1960–1980 we use data on heavy industry from Dun and Bradstreet directories and for 1990–2010 the US EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory to calculate a Hazards Density Index. Drawing on the decennial censuses for 1960–2010, we populate census tracts from corresponding years with data on race, ethnicity, educational attainment, income, and housing tenure.

Findings

Density of polluting industry is …

Application Of A Hillslope-Scale Soil Moisture Data Assimilation System To Military Trafficability Assessment, Alejandro N. Flores, Dara Entekhabi, Rafael L. Bras

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil moisture is an important environmental variable that impacts military operations and weapons systems. Accurate and timely forecasts of soil moisture at appropriate spatial scales, therefore, are important for mission planning. We present an application of a soil moisture data assimilation system to military trafficability assessment. The data assimilation system combines hillslope-scale (e.g., 10s to 100s of m) estimates of soil moisture from a hydrologic model with synthetic L-band microwave radar observations broadly consistent with the planned NASA Soil Moisture Active–Passive (SMAP) mission. Soil moisture outputs from the data assimilation system are input to a simple index-based model for vehicle …

The Meaning, Experience, And Value Of 'Common Space' For Women And Children In Urban Poor Settlements In India, Anupama Reddy Nallari

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Housing and basic services in urban poor settlements have been the focus of bi-lateral agencies, national governments as well as NGOs and CBOs. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the value of "common spaces" in these settlements, or in the planning and design of "common spaces" in upgraded or redeveloped settlements. Common spaces include communal areas like childcare and play facilities, religious and cultural establishments, shops, physical infrastructure like roads and sanitation, and informal spaces like courtyards, steps, lanes, and corridors where women perform daily chores and interact and children play. This dissertation focuses on understanding the significance …

In The Best Interest Of The (Adult) Child: Ideas About Kinship Care Of Older Adults, Tezra Jennings, Tam E. Perry, Julia Valeriani

Social Work Faculty Publications

This article uses a qualitative, ethnographic approach to examine the experiences older adults and their kin, as the older adult engages in relocation. Studies looking at caregiving by kin for older adults highlight burdens for the adult child. This study offers a life course perspective on kinship care, analyzing older adults’ decisions’ to move. It was found that many older adults are strongly influenced by the desire to not be cared for by their kin as well as to select housing near their existing social network, which might exclude kin. In conclusion, policy implications are discussed.

Overview Of The Akdn And Its Agencies, Aga Khan Development Network

Selected secondary sources and publications with substantial content about AKU

A brochure-style document providing a concise overview of the Aga Khan Development Network, its mission, structure, and major agencies across sectors including health, education, culture, and economic development. It outlines AKDN’s contributions, guiding principles, and institutional reach.

Making Regional And Local Tmdls Work: The Chesapeake Bay Tmdl And Lessons From The Lynnhaven River, Shana Campbell Jones

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

This Article will first provide an overview of how restoration developed in the Bay in order to provide a regional context for the Lynnhaven River “total maximum daily load[s]” or TMDL. The Article will then explain the 2011 Chesapeake Bay TMDL and how it potentially foreshadows “next generation” cooperative federalism and watershed restoration because it is generating increased engagement from local government, private citizens, and non-profit restoration efforts. This Article will then tighten its focus to the Lynnhaven River, a local tributary within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and will examine the local government’s success in implementing measures to meet a …

Protecting The Living Victims: Evaluating The Impact Of India's Farmer Suicide Crisis On Its Rural Women, Gowri Janakiramanan

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Prostitutes, Orphans, And Entrepreneurs: The Effect Of Public Perceptions Of Ghana's Girl Child Kayayei On Public Policy, Sheryl Buske

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

For a variety of reasons, including the growing disparity in resources and opportunities between Ghana’s mostly rural North and its urban South, the numbers and patterns of internal migration have changed dramatically over the last twenty years. Historically the province of men, and later women on a temporary basis that was tied to the rainy seasons, young girls between ten and sixteen years of age now make up the majority of the North-South migrants.

The lives of these girl migrants, who live and work in Ghana’s markets as porters, known locally as kayayoo, are complex and multifaceted. They endure …

A Broadly Implementable Research Course In Phage Discovery And Genomics For First-Year Undergraduate Students, Tuajuanda Jordan, Sandra Burnett, Susan Carson, Steven Caruso, Kari Clase, Randall Dejong, John Dennehy, Dee Denver, David Dunbar, Sarah C.R. Elgin, Ann Findley, Chris Gissendanner, Urszula Golebiewska, Nancy Guild, Grant Hartzog, Wendy Grillo, Gail Hollowell, Lee Hughes, Allison Johnson, Rodney King, Lynn Lewis, Wei Li, Frank Rosenzweig, Michael Rubin, Margaret Saha, James Sandoz, Christopher Shaffer, Barbara Taylor, Louise Temple, Edwin Vazquez, Vassie Ware, Lucia Barker, Kevin Bradley, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Welkin Pope, Daniel Russell, Steven Cresawn, David Lopatto, Cherly Bailey, Graham Hatfull

Biology Faculty Research

Engaging large numbers of undergraduates in authentic scientific discovery is desirable but difficult to achieve. We have developed a general model in which faculty and teaching assistants from diverse academic institutions are trained to teach a research course for first-year undergraduate students focused on bacteriophage discovery and genomics. The course is situated within a broader scientific context aimed at understanding viral diversity, such that faculty and students are collaborators with established researchers in the field. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) course has been widely implemented and has been …

Mathematics Achievement With Digital Game-Based Learning In High School Algebra 1 Classes, Terri Ferguson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of digital game-based learning (DGBL) on mathematics achievement in a rural high school setting in North Carolina. A causal comparative research design was used in this study to collect data to determine the effectiveness of DGBL in high school Algebra 1 classes. Data were collected from the North Carolina End-of-Course (EOC) Test for high school Algebra 1. The data collection was broken down by comparison groups based on academic achievement as measured by the North Carolina EOC Test for Algebra 1. The comparison groups were student participants who received digital game-based instruction and tradition instruction …

Teaching With Tables: A Case Study Investigating Affective And Psychomotor Responses In High School Students And Teachers, Johanna Herndon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This exploratory, collective case study investigated the affective and psychomotor conditions in high school students and teachers when tables and chairs were used in classrooms instead of traditional desks. The experiences of students, teachers, and administrators were examined by investigating attitudes toward the educational process, student and teacher self-efficacy, community-building, and classroom environmental dynamics. Students (n=59) and teachers (n=3) from three classrooms (language arts, math, and social studies) in a Southeastern public high school served as participants. Administrators (n=3) also participated to provide additional perspectives to the study. Data was collected using documents, archival records, interviews, direct and participant observations, …

A Community Of Practice: Librarians In A Biomedical Research Network, Danielle P. De Jager-Loftus, David Midyette, Barbara Harvey

Scholarly Papers and Articles

Providing library and reference services within a biomedical research community presents special challenges for librarians, especially those in historically lower-funded states. These challenges can include understanding needs, defining and communicating the library’s role, building relationships, and developing and maintaining general and subject specific knowledge. This article describes a biomedical research network and the work of health sciences librarians at the lead intensive research institution with librarians from primarily undergraduate institutions and tribal colleges and universities. Applying the concept of a “community of practice” to a collaborative effort suggests how librarians can work together to provide effective reference services to researchers …