News Archive · OSU Geography

Winter Quarter 2009

13th Annual Severe Weather Symposium

The Thirteenth Annual Ohio State University Severe Weather Symposium will be held on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Fawcett Center. The symposium hosts a variety of speakers that deal with various aspects of meteorology, especially those relating to severe weather.

The symposium is hosted by the OSU Meteorology Club. For details and to check out this year's impressive array of speakers and topics, please see the OSU Meteorology Club's webpage.

Professor Jeff Rogers Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Jeff Rogers has received the Lifetime Achievement Award, from the Climate Specialty Group. Jeff will receive this award at The Climate Specialty group's annual business meeting at the 2009 AAG Conference. For those in Las Vegas and interested in joining Jeff as he receives this honor, please go to: Royal Pavilion 3 at 7 P.M. on Wednesday March 25th.

Grad Student's Work Featured in Hopkins Gallery

Suzanna Klaf, a current PhD Student in Geography, will have her work featured in The Hopkins Hall Gallery between March 30, 2009 and April 1, 2009. The show, entitled "Visual Narratives of School Space and Educational Reform: Critical Illustrations," is presented as an illustrated portion of her dissertation research on education reform, Klaf which is scheduled for completion at the end of the spring. Suzanna's drawings are truly breathtaking and represent a fascinating approach toward presenting geographic research as art.

The Gallery hours for the exhibit:

Monday (3/30), 12-5:00
Tuesday (3/31), 9:00-5:00
Wednesday (4/1), 9:00-5:00

Official Flyer | Directions

AAG Student Paper Clinic

AAG Announcing the 11th Annual AAG Student Paper Clinic for students presenting at this year's AAG Conference in Las Vegas.

Why you should attend the clinic?
Your paper is not as ready as you think! On countless occasions clever people we have known have walked away from their papers gloomy and despondent feeling they "could have done a better job" while others have walked away feeling fine without knowing that they a) ran ten minutes too long, b) were thoroughly unclear, and c) mumbled through the entire talk.
There is nothing more gratifying than doing a job well; this is a skill, like any other, you have the opportunity to learn and perfect here in graduate school. Moreover, for those of you who might be job hunting in the future, a conference can be important.

What will we do for you?
First and foremost we will keep you to time. We will also review presentation style and use of materials. We will comment on nervous habits and provide suggestions for presenting with clarity. We will also provide substantive comments, where possible, on what might be changed in the paper, especially in the area of focusing on key points and organizing evidence.

When and where is the clinic?
The clinic will be held between 3:30 and 5:00 PM, Thursday March 19, 2009, in 1080 Derby. We will have time for 4-5 students. If demand is great, then we will try and do another session at a different time in the week (TBA).

Interested in Participating? Contact Kendra McSweeney for more information.

Call for Summer Writing/Research Fellowship

Doctoral Candidates: The application process for Doctoral Summer Writing/Research Fellowships is now open through April 1.

The Doctoral Summer Writing/Research Fellowship provides support for Ph.D. candidates to advance writing or research related to their dissertation. Students who have advanced to candidacy by the end of the SP09 are eligible to apply. This is a competitive call. The application will include a Proposal describing the rationale for research activities they wish to pursue during SU09. In addition, a student's faculty advisor will be required to submit a Letter of Support that endorses the summer goals described in the proposal and indicates his/her agreement to oversee the proposed efforts. The proposals and the adviser's letter will be due April 1st, 2009 at 5pm.

A PDF with full instructions and guidelines can be accessed here.

Grants, Fellowships, and Competition Page Unveiled

Searching for grant, fellowship, travel award or research competition opportunities? Check out new resource available on our website that lists these types of opportunities. Simply click on "Grants and Competitions" under the "Research and Field Studies" link above. This page will expand as the department is notified of additional opportunities.

Know of an opportunity that should be listed or even a helpful link? Please contact our webmaster at birnie.1@osu.edu

Second Annual Grad Pre-AAG Lunch Discussion

AAG How do I network at the AAG? How do I actually enjoy myself? What are some basic tips for presenting? What actually happens at the AAG? Where can I meet people?

Grads and Undergrads: Answer these questions and more by attending the Geography Graduate Organization's (GGO) pre-AAG lunch discussion. The objective of this session is to help students get the most out of the AAG. Bring your stories, suggestions, and questions, particularly the ones that seem kind of weird or silly to ask your advisor or a faculty member. This was an incredibly helpful session year for taking their first trip to the AAG to seasoned attendees.

FREE sub lunch is included! Join us on Thursday March 12, 2009 at Noon in Derby 1116!

New Issue of Geospectrum Online!

Extra! Extra! The latest issue of Geospectrum is online and ready for viewing. Catch up on the happenings of current and former students, read about the new Geospatial Data and Analysis Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization, or most importantly, get details about Centennial Events including the AAG Party and the Centennial Celebration in May.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to read Geospectrum. The file size is approximately 9.5 MB.

OSU Geography on Facebook!

You will need Adobe Acrobat to read Geospectrum. The file size is approximately 9.5 MB.

National Weather Service Roadshow!

Atmospheric Science and Climatic Studies students and faculty: The National Weather Service (NWS) is bringing it's 2009 College Road Show to 1080 Derby Hall on this Thursday afternoon, February 26, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Members of local NWS Forecast Offices will talk to interested students about internship opportunities, what it's like to work for the NWS, and how to prepare for employment as a meteorologist with the federal government. There will also be discussions of weather events, a game (Weather Jeopardy) and time for interaction and networking. After the official program ends, students will be able to go out to an informal dinner with the meteorologists from the NWS for conversation and more tips on how to get hired.

Spring 2009 Geography Course Offerings

Getting ready to register for spring classes? Click here for a complete list of Geography and Atmospheric Science course offerings for Spring 2009. Please feel free to contact our undergraduate advisor if you have any questions.

What about people in geographic information science?

This year's Arthur H. Robinson Colloquium will feature Dr. Harvey Miller from the University of Utah. Consistent with this year's Centennial theme, Dr. Miller received his doctorate from our department in 1991. Please join us on Thursday February 19, 2009 at 3:30 P.M. in Derby 1080. Click here for a full abstract of the talk and an official flyer.

News Archive Up and Running

When did Rickie Sanders visit? When was the Graduate Student picnic? Where can I find the link for the article in the Lantern featuring the Hunker tour? You can find all of this information and more in our news archive accessible by simply clicking a link to the right.

ISI Citation Workshop, 2/5

isi Join Steve Rogers, our map librarian & Collection Manager for an incredibly useful workshop on how to use the ISI Citation Indexes. The ISI Citation Index is not only a great search tool, but also a way to keep tabs on works citing your favorite articles, books or subject areas. This event is open to everyone and will be held in Derby 1116 on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 3:30 - 5:00.

New Course Offering for SP09! Global Politics & the Modern Geopolitical Imagination

A new course, taught by Prof. Mat Coleman. will be available this spring quarter! This course will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-2:18 P.M.

Course Summary. After 50 years of relative obscurity, the term "geopolitics" is back. Journalists, politicians, talking heads, foreign policy bureaucrats, violent non-state groups, anti-war activists - everyone is talking the language of geopolitics to explain conflict and strategy in the world economy. But what does it mean?

This course will critically examine key schools of geopolitical thought in the 20th century as well as major conflicts that have shaped the historical and geographical definition of the term. We will look at current issues like environmental security, resource conflict, migration, finance, the war on terrorism, urban warfare, oil and its geostrategy, the rise of China and the post-9/11 politics of border control.

Click on the thumbnail of the flyer above for the official announcement or contact Prof. Mat Coleman if you have any questions.

Empty Houses/False Promises

crisis As the economic crisis unfolds, the web of those affected continues to explode in breadth. Millions of people, both domestically and abroad have lost their homes, savings, support networks and in many cases, their livelihoods. Undoubtedly, the crisis has affected people very differently across nations and even between individual households and communities. Nevertheless, the crisis' global nature reveals our intertwined lives and calls for concerted responses.

Join us for what will surely be a stimulating and engaging discussion as we deliberate the impacts and potential responses to the crisis!

Thursday January 29, 2009 from 5:30-7:00 P.M. at the Barrister Club. (Doors open at 5:00 for a light snack) Click here for full details.

Geocaching & Opening of Undergrad Resource Center

gps It may be cold, windy and snowy, but it's a great time to compete in the first ever Ohio State Department of Geography Geocaching Challenge!

When: Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:15-5:00 pm. Sign up via phone at 292-3553 or in-person in 1085 Derby with Rick McClish.
What: Intense, gut-wrenching competition of a geographic nature - there might be blood!!! A Scavenger/Treasure Hunt culminating in good food and prizes.
Who: Everyone in the department. Undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff.

After the Geocaching Challenge, we will also be officially opening the fantastic new Undergraduate Resource Center The Resource Center is a great place to study, relax, or collaborate with others with copious amounts of workspace, computers equipped with plenty of software and new furniture!