Category Archives: National Geographic

Happy Geography Awareness Week 2022!

This week we are celebrating Geography Awareness Week!

The History of Geography Awareness Week:

Thirty-five years ago, the National Geographic Society advocated to create Geography Awareness Week. Geography Awareness Week is a way to celebrate and raise awareness of geography, both as a discipline and as a part of daily life. The National Geographic Society felt the limited exposure to geography in American education was a dangerous deficiency. Without proper exposure to geography, students are unable to make effective decisions, understand geo-spatial and geo-political issues, or even recognize their impacts as global citizens.
— see more at the National Geographic Website

To learn more about the exciting adventures and careers in geography, visit the National Geographic Explorers webpage: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-explorers/.

Geography Awareness Week Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

Please consider joining our in-person event in the College of Design in Ames, Iowa. Here are a few virtual events taking place during Geography Awareness Week:

Monday, November 14, 2022 – 10 am (Central) – People, Plants, and You! presented by Maria Fadiman – Join National Geographic Explorer Maria Fadiman to learn how people connect with plants around the globe–and the importance of geography! https://www.nationalgeographic.org/tickets/explorer-classroom/event/PeoplePlantsAndYou/

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 10 am to 4pm – 2022 GeoTech Center Virtual GIS Day
Speakers will present on a number of GIS related topics throughout the day – View Agenda https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/23b6ae31a4e8443290a6efbd868b4c20

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – Live GIS Day Facebook Live Event with Joseph Kerski
Join geographer, educator, and GIS professional Joseph Kerski to (1) Celebrate the users of GIS, (2) Explore why maps and geotechnologies are relevant to 21st Century problem-solving, and (3) Discover how you can make your own maps and pursue your own learning! https://fb.me/e/3PtnqfMUz

Thursday, November 17, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – The Art and Science of Sustainability presented by E Wen Wong – Learn how National Geographic Explorer E Wen Wong’s organization relies on both art and science to illustrate how we are impacting the environment and to inspire positive environmental change.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/tickets/explorer-classroom/event/ArtandScienceofSustainability2/

Trek with National Geographic Explorer across the world

Paul Salopek’s 24,000 Mile Journey

To kick off Geography Awareness week, explore the amazing journey of geographer, Paul Salopek’s 24,000 mile journey across the globe. During his 10-year journey he documented the places and people he encounter every 100 miles. At each of these milestones, he documents the date, location, elevation, shows a picture of his feet and the sky at that location, and interviews the first person he meets asking them 3 questions: who are you, where do you come from, and where are you going?

Follow his journey through an amazing story map: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/#section-0.