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AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars Program

March 10, 2017

This year, the AAG has launched a unique new initiative called the Emerging Workforce Scholars Program. The program allows aspirational high school and undergraduate students from underserved Boston-area communities to attend the Annual Meeting and interact with geography and geoscience professionals to learn about the work they perform and the preparation needed for careers in their field. The program builds on the AAG’s long-term commitment to enhancing diversity in geography and the geosciences and addressing equity and social justice issues.

In support of this program, Ms. Trinh Nguyen

(pictured, right), the Director of Mayor Walsh’s Office of Workforce Development, will participate in a panel on Friday, April 7 from 1:20 – 3:00 pm entitled “Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Leading Employers Discuss Career Pathways to Jobs in Infrastructure, Hospitality, Tech, and Sustainability,” and from 3:20 – 4:00 pm

The Honorable Ronald L. Walker, II, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development (pictured, right) will be keynote speaker at the recognition ceremony for the AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars program participants. This session is entitled: “Keynote by Hon. Sec. Ronald L. Walker, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor: Massachusetts’s Workforce Investment Programs and AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars Recognition Ceremony.” Both sessions will take place in Room 203 of the Hynes Convention Center.

For more information about the Emerging Workforce Scholars Program, visit: https://www.aag.org/diversity_scholarship

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AAG to Recognize 50-Year Members: Class of 1967

March 9, 2017

The AAG congratulates and gives thanks to the Class of 1967 for their continuous membership, enduring support, and contributions to the Association. The Class of 1967 receives a memento in recognition of their loyalty to the Association. As a tangible token of appreciation, 50-year members also receive lifetime remission of annual dues and annual meeting registration fees from the AAG.

This year’s honorees are:

Charles Aiken
James Baldwin
Klaus Bayr
Joseph Bencloski
Ronald Briggs
Anne Buttimer
Stephen Chang
Michael Conzen
William Craig
Michael Cummins
Donald Dahmann
Harvey Flad
Colbert Held
Briavel Holcomb
Jerry Kaster
William Keinath, Jr
Victor Kelbaugh
Laurence Ma
Wayne McKim
John Moravek
Edward Muller
James Mulvihill
William Muraco
Paul Phillips
Arlene Rengert
George Rengert
Gwyn Rowley
Gary Shannon
Richard Smith
Noel Stirrat

The Class of 1967 will be recognized at the AAG Annual Meeting in Boston during the AAG Awards Luncheon on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Friends, family, and colleagues are invited to celebrate with the honorees. Admission, which includes a plated lunch, is only $55. Tables for parties of ten are also available. Buy tickets.

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AAG Announces Recipients of 2017 Awards

March 9, 2017

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) congratulates the individuals and groups named to receive an AAG Award. The awardees represent outstanding contributions to and accomplishments in the geographic field. The awardees will be recognized at the AAG Annual Meeting in Boston during the AAG Awards Luncheon on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Friends, family, and colleagues are invited to celebrate with the honorees. Admission, which includes a plated lunch, is only $55. Tables for parties of ten are also available. Buy tickets.

* * *

Community College Travel Grants

April Shirey, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI

AAG Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarships

Amy Kennedy, transferring from Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio to the Ohio State University

Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Achievement Award in Geographic Science

Coty Welch, University of North Alabama

AAG Dissertation Research Grants

Mia Bennett, University of California Los Angeles
Eric Nost, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yoo-Min Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brian Williams, University of Georgia
Sheridan Wright Kennedy, Rice University
Qunshan Zhao, Arizona State University

AAG Research Grants

Sarah Blue, Texas State University
Shouraseni Roy, University of Miami
Qiusheng Wu, State University of New York at Binghamton

J. Warren Nystrom Award

To be announced at the AAG Annual Meeting in Boston.

Mel Marcus Fund for Physical Geography

Dr. Sally Horn, University of Tennessee

*** AAG Book Awards ***

Humboldt Book Award for Enduring Scholarship in Geography

Geoffrey Martin, American Geography and Geographers, Oxford University Press, 2015

The John Brinckerhoff Jackson Prize

Lisa Benton-Short, The National Mall: No Ordinary Public Space, University of Toronto Press, 2016

The AAG Globe Book Award for Public Understanding of Geography\

Niem Nguyen, A Curriculum of Fear, University of Minnesota Press, 2016

The AAG Meridian Book Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work in Geography

Eric Sheppard, Limits to Globalization: The Disruptive Geographies of Capitalist Development, Oxford University Press, 2016

* * *

Program Excellence Award

The Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas
Honorable Mention: The Geography Department, George Washington University

Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Beverly Mullings, Queen’s University

Glenda Laws Award

Sarah Hunt, University of British Columbia

The AAG Harold M. Rose Award for Anti-Racism Research and Practice

Melissa Wright, Pennsylvania State University

AAG Enhancing Diversity

Leela Viswanathan, Queen’s University

AAG Harm de Blij Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Ronald Kalafsky, University of Tennessee

E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Award

Hui Lin, Chinese University of Hong Kong

The AAG Stanley Brunn Award for Creativity in Geography

David Harvey, City University of New York

AAG Honorary Geographer

James Hansen, Columbia University

Atlas Award

Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

AAG Presidential Achievement Award

Roger Downs, Pennsylvania State University

*** AAG Honors ***

Distinguished Teaching Honors

Michael Pretes, University of North Alabama

Ron F. Abler Distinguished Service Honors

Julie Winkler, Michigan State University
Kent Mathewson

Distinguished Scholarship Honors

Patrick Bartlein, University of Oregon
Michael Storper, University of California, Los Angeles

Lifetime Achievement Honors

Ruth Fincher, University of Melbourne
David Robinson, Rutgers University

News

Family-Friendly Boston

March 7, 2017

Family fun in Boston is around every corner. From the waterfront to the Fens, and across the river too, Boston is full of family-oriented attractions. We make history fun with tours of the Freedom Trail and interactive exhibits at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and the USS Constitution Museum. Don’t worry about those little feet getting fatigued because everything in Boston is nearby. If you do need a rest hop aboard a Trolley Tour or Boston Duck Tour.

I Was A-Splishing and A-Splashing — Brian Talbot via Compfight

Boston museums are full of adventure. Start with the Boston Children’s Museum in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood. The Children’s Museum has been engaging and entertaining young minds for over a century and the museum recently unveiled an artist-in-residence program called Current. Head north along the waterfront and you will arrive at the New England Aquarium on Central Wharf. Play with the seals, watch the penguins frolic, behold the Giant Ocean Tank, and get hands-on at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank. Outside the Aquarium you will find an IMAX theater and whale watching excursions depart on the hour.

Adjacent to the Aquarium is the Rose Kennedy Greenway, full of food trucks, water fountains, art installations, open-air market vendors and a unique carousel. Head into Faneuil Hall Marketplace to peruse food vendors inside Quincy Market and scintillating street performers up and down the corridors of the historic marketplace.

The Museum of Science is conveniently located just off the Green Line T. Take the T to Science Park and you will see the famous T-Rex looming outside the building. Explore the Butterfly Garden, Hall of Human Life and recently opened Yawkey Gallery. Outside the museum, the iconic Boston Duck Tours have a departure location. Hop aboard and see Boston from land and water. Duck Tours also depart from the Prudential Center. If you are boarding from the Pru, head up to the Skywalk Observatory on the 50^th floor to take in a bird’s eye of Boston and get a great view of Fenway Park, which is also open for tours.

Across the river, Cambridge is great for families as well. Tour Harvard University with Trademark Tours and stop by the Harvard Museum of Natural History to see the famous Glass Flowers and new Marine Gallery. In neighboring Somerville, the Legoland Discovery Center is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Come to Boston! An old city that’s perfect for young families.

Courtesy BostonUSA.com.

AAG 2017, Boston, family activities

News

Ideas for the Culture Enthusiast in Boston

March 7, 2017

Boston’s cultural scene is vibrant in all seasons. From museums and performing arts to interactive festivals and outdoor concerts, Boston is abuzz with activities for cultural enthusiasts.

If you love the classics, ensembles such as Handel & Haydn Society and the Boston Symphony Orchestra are reason enough to visit Boston. If you prefer a lighter, contemporary flair then the Boston Pops are your orchestra of choice. Boston’s heralded conservatories, including Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music, also performance concerts every week throughout the year.

The performing arts in Boston reveal a rich array of theatre, dance and intimate concerts. Award-winning theater companies across the city include Huntington Theatre Company, ArtsEmerson’s World on Stage, and American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge. Iconic venues such as the Boston Opera House and Citi Wang Theatre collaborate with Broadway in Boston and Boston Ballet to bring captivating performances to Boston’s theater district.

And of course, Boston’s museums are exceptional! The great masters are on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Harvard Art Museums, and each of these cherished collections has recently undergone a state-of-the-art renovation. Mix in some modern art with a journey down to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston’s Seaport District. All of these museums, as well as the Boston Public Library, feature intimate concerts set against the backdrop of their distinctive settings.

Courtesy BostonUSA.com.

News

Jobs and Careers Center at the 2017 AAG Annual Meeting

March 7, 2017

The Jobs & Careers Center will be located in Rooms 203, 204 & 205 of the Hynes Convention Center, Second Level. It provides a central location for job seekers, students, and professionals to interact with one another and to learn more about careers and professional development for geographers. A careers information table will be staffed and accessible each day for general questions, information, and resources and will be open daily from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.

This year’s session track will include over 75 panel and paper sessions, workshops, and field trips related to careers and professional development. Sessions will cover a broad range of topics, from working as a geographer in the public, private, nonprofit, or academic sector, to networking, to becoming a certified GIS Professional (GISP), to building inclusive spaces for women in geography. In addition to the many sessions taking place within the Jobs and Careers Center, dozens more careers and professional development sessions will take place at various locations throughout the meeting. The complete schedule of activities is available online at https://www.aag.org/annualmeeting/jobs_center.

Highlighted Sessions

The AAG would like to highlight two back-to-back Friday afternoon sessions featuring two high-profile leaders in workforce development. On Friday, April 7 from 1:20 – 3:00 pm in Hynes 203, Ms. Trinh Nguyen, the Director of Mayor Walsh’s Office of Workforce Development, will participate in a panel entitled “Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Leading Employers Discuss Career Pathways to Jobs in Infrastructure, Hospitality, Tech, and Sustainability,” and from 3:20 – 4:00 pm (also in Hynes 203), the Honorable Ronald L. Walker, II, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development will be keynote speaker at the recognition ceremony for the AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars program participants. The session is entitled: “Keynote by Hon. Sec. Ronald L. Walker, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor: Massachusetts’s Workforce Investment Programs and AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars Recognition Ceremony”

AAG Careers in Geography Fair

The AAG Careers in Geography Fair will feature representatives from a wide range of industries that employ geographers. Employer tables will be located in the Hynes Convention Center, Second Level, in the hallway outside of the Jobs & Careers Center on Friday, April 7, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. A room will be reserved for breakout meetings and on-site interviews with qualified job candidates on Thursday, April 6 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and Friday, April 7 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. For more information about the Careers in Geography Fair, visit: https://www.aag.org/annualmeeting/jobs_center/career_fair

Career Mentoring

Whether you’re looking for your first job, considering graduate school, or changing careers, the advice of a mentor can help prepare you for success in today’s competitive job market. The AAG has assembled a team of experienced geography professionals, faculty members, and advanced students to provide one-on-one and small-group consultation about careers in a variety of industries and employment sectors. Topics for discussion might include creating resumes and cover letters that will grab an employer’s attention, finding jobs where you can put your geography skills and training to work, choosing a graduate program, developing your personal and professional networks, long-term career planning, and more. Career mentoring sessions will take place April 5-8, each morning from 10:00 – 11:40 am.

Job & Student Opportunity Postings

Each year, the Jobs & Careers Center features job postings and student opportunities in all fields of geography. Attendees can browse the postings during the career mentoring sessions and or at any time during the conference. Employers are also welcome to post printed ads for open positions within their organizations.

Diversity Ambassadors

A diverse group of graduate students, faculty, and professional geographers serve as AAG Diversity Ambassadors. AAG Diversity Ambassadors are organizing a panel session at the 2017 Annual Meeting entitled “Embracing Diversity: An Open Discussion with the AAG’s Diversity Ambassadors.” The session will take place on Wednesday, April 5 from 2:40 – 4:20 pm in Hynes 203. This session is a continuation of similar panels organized in recent years, which intends to both build upon and enhance the information provided in alternative conference sessions focused on careers and professional development.

AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars

This year, the AAG has launched a unique Emerging Workforce Scholars program for Bunker Hill Community College, Boston Latin Academy and Charlestown High students to engage local youth and advance diversity in geography and the geosciences. The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) and Massachusetts Workforce Professional Association (MWPA) have been working on this innovative project as AAG’s implementation partners. Please extend a warm welcome to the Emerging Scholars as they explore careers in geography and the geosciences! For more information about the program, visit: https://www.aag.org/diversity_scholarship

GISCI Certification

Did you know you can earn GISP credits by participating in the AAG Annual Meeting? Attendance provides several ways to earn necessary points for the “Contributions to the Profession” and “Education” components of becoming a GISP. A workshop entitled “GISCI – An Exploration of Professionalism Early in a Career or Profession” will take place on Thursday, April 6, from 1:20 – 3:00 pm in Hynes 205. Prospective GISPs and current GISPs who have questions about renewing their certification are encouraged to attend. Attendance is first-come, first-served.

For more information and materials about careers in geography, visit the Jobs & Careers area of the AAG website (www.aag.org/careers). For more on the 2017 AAG Annual Meeting, visit www.aag.org/annualmeeting.

News

AAG Snapshot: Learn About the Programs, Projects, and Resources of the AAG During the Annual Meeting

March 1, 2017

Would you like to know more about the work of the AAG throughout the year, beyond the Annual Meeting? Are you interested in learning about additional resources and opportunities available to you through the AAG? Check out a new feature at the 2017 Annual Meeting in Boston, our AAG Snapshots series!

Throughout the week, AAG staff will be giving brief (5-10 minute) talks on different aspects of the projects, programs, and resources of the association, with website demonstrations showing how to access more information online. Topics range from making the most of student membership to AAG’s efforts regarding public policy. We encourage everyone to attend these casual presentations and interact with AAG staff, asking your questions and learning more about the association and membership.

AAG Snapshots will be held in the AAG Communications Center, located on Level 2 of the Hynes Convention Center near registration.

Make the Most of Your Student Membership
with Candice Luebbering
Wednesday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 7 at 3:20 p.m.

AAG & Policy
with John Wertman
Wednesday, April 5 at 2:40 p.m.
Friday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m.

Supporting Geography Education
with Michael Solem
Wednesday, April 5 4:20 p.m.
Thursday, April 6 at 5:20 p.m.

AAG Award Opportunities
with Candida Mannozzi
Thursday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m.

Disciplinary Data Dashboard
with Mark Revell
Thursday, April 6 at 3:20 p.m.

Know Our Journals, Submit Your Manuscripts
with Jennifer Cassidento
Friday, April 7 at 5:20 p.m.
Saturday, April 8 at 3:20 p.m.

Service Opportunities in the AAG
with Candida Mannozzi
Saturday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m.

The GeoMentors Program
with Candice Luebbering
Saturday, April 8 at 5:20 p.m.

AAG Snapshots

Annual Meeting

Carry the AAG 2017 Annual Meeting Program in Your Pocket

March 1, 2017

Get the most from your AAG 2017 Boston experience with the mobile app. Enjoy an interactive experience on your Apple, Android, BlackBerry and other mobile devices during the annual meeting. If you’re a laptop user or have a Windows phone, there’s also a Web version for your devices.

Plan your experience throughout the meeting:

search sessions by day, group or type or just browse the abstracts and participants listings
create your own calendar of events by adding your favorite sessions to your schedule
receive updated changes to sessions and events from organizers
browse exhibitor listings
take notes during sessions and send as emails and also rate the sessions
view the list of local restaurants to experience during your visit
locate various sessions by tapping on areas of each floor plan within the maps icon

The app will help you balance your schedule of preferred sessions, events and meetings with friends and colleagues, while keeping you informed with daily Geograms and social media updates. Networking features offer colleagues tools to share schedules and exchange contact information. The AAG mobile app also integrates with social media networks on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And, it will help you collect and share important notes and information from sessions and exhibitors.

For more information, download the tip sheet to help get you started.

Download the native app: https://m.core-apps.com/aagmeetings

Bookmark the Web version on your Windows phone, computer or laptop: https://app.core-apps.com/aagam2017

IMPORTANT NOTES: If you plan to use the app on two of your mobile devices, it’s important to set up the multi-device sync within the app on both devices. (See tip sheet for more details.)

Also, if you find the app is slow to launch, you may bypass the update by simply tapping the back arrow on Android or the cancel button on iOS devices to immediately get to the dashboard. Update times during app launch vary by device, connection strength and also depend on when you last did a full update. Remember, this is a large meeting with 6,900 abstracts, 1,700 sessions and 9,000 attendees! Make sure you try to update at least once a day to capture any changes, such as session updates, newly added attendees, etc. If your refresh button turns red, it’s time to update.

Annual Meeting

Explore the Growing List of AAG 2017 Field Trips, Workshops and Excursions

February 27, 2017

Explore the rich physical and cultural geography of Boston, Mass., and the New England region through informative field trips led by geographers or other experts. Field trips and excursions are also an excellent way to meet and exchange ideas with colleagues and friends. Also, expand your knowledge base and sign up for a workshop within your area of expertise.

Learn more.

Annual Meeting

Attend Special Sessions on the 2016 U.S. Elections: Implications for Geography and Beyond

February 24, 2017

The 2016 elections in the United States may impact geography and our nation in the years ahead in many ways. Every year, the AAG addresses “late-breaking” events through special sessions at our Annual Meetings. During our upcoming 2017 AAG Annual Meeting in Boston, the AAG will hold a series of sessions within the special track, The 2016 U.S. Elections: Implications for Geography and Beyond, focused on analysis and research on the 2016 election, and what the results may mean for geography, the nation, and our planet.

This special track features the session, “The 2016 U.S. Elections: Implications for Geography and Beyond,” a high-profile panel session, chaired and organized by AAG President Glen M. MacDonald, with panelists Sarah Witham Bednarz, Texas A&M University; Alexander B. Murphy, University of Oregon; Douglas Richardson, American Association of Geographers; Derek H. Alderman, University of Tennessee; Victoria A. Lawson, University of Washington; Julie Winkler, Michigan State University, among others. This special session will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017, from 5:20 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Room 312 of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

The panel session, “Need for Public Intellectuals in a Trump America: Strategies for Communication, Engagement, and Advocacy,” organized by AAG Vice President Derek Alderman, will take place on Thursday, April 6, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. The following day, Friday, April 7th, from 1:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., panelists will address the specific issue of immigration in the session “Trump on Immigration Enforcement: the First 100 Days.” The panel will be up-to-date, research-based, and policy-informed, addressing questions on what immigration enforcement looks like in a Trump administration. Then don’t miss Saturday’s panel session already discussed above, “The 2016 U.S. Elections: Implications for Geography and Beyond,” from 5:20 p.m. – 7:00 p.m, featuring insights from current and former AAG leadership about our current political climate.