NIU Geography

Mike Ribant was awarded People’s Choice Award

2011-12-14T19:30:00.006-06:00

PhD student Mike Ribant was awarded People’s Choice Award (student division ) for his poster “Persistent County Clusters of High Unemployment Across Recessions: November 2001-June 2009” at the fall 2011, Illinois Geographic Information Systems Association meeting.

GIS Night

2011-11-06T13:55:00.010-06:00

NIU’s Department of Geography - Advanced Geospatial Laboratory held its fourth annual GIS Night on Wednesday, November 16. GIS Night coincides with Geography Awareness Week which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society and other geographic organizations around the world.

Demonstrations included traditional 2D GIS mapping, touch screen technology, digital signage, holographic maps, 3D animations and several activities geared towards children grades k – 12. The lab was open for several hours and was attended by a cross section of students, faculty and the public. Several graduate students that worked in the lab were present to help answer guest questions. Prizes were given out that included a world globe and T-Shirt.
(post submitted by Phil Young)

Dr. Lesley Rigg selected as Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Affairs

2011-06-30T20:15:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Dr. Lesley Rigg from the Department of Geography! She has been selected as the Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Affairs. Dr. Rigg brings to the position a strong background as an active researcher, with funding from the National Science Foundation. She also brings experience as part of the leadership team of our NSF ADVANCE Catalyst Grant, as a former Director of Undergraduate Studies in Geography and as a member of numerous department, college and university committees and task forces. Her duties will begin on July 1.

(Post submitted by Jodi Heitkamp)

Dr. Richard Greene featured on NIU Today

2011-05-29T16:39:00.003-05:00

Dr. Richard Greene's recent analysis of census data of suburban Chicago is featured on NIU Today.
See more details at http://www.niutoday.info/2011/05/24/shifting-suburban-hierarchy/

Geography Club Had a Productive and Fun Year

2011-05-02T23:24:00.006-05:00

During its second year of revitalization, NIU’s Geography Club had continued flourish. In early fall, many geography students and facility participated in the NIU Homecoming 5k race. A graduate student and Geography Club member managed to win the race and even set a course record. Once again, the Geography Department’s Career Day was the primary focus of fall activities. Member’s spent countless hours designing welcome banners and personalizing geography themed water bottles. 2010’s Career Day also marked the first annual creation of Geography Club calendars. Calendar ware created consisting of photos that members had taken themselves. Photos ranged from the DeKalb region to Montana’s National Glacial Park even European castles. All photos included specific longitude and latitude coordinates of the shown location. Calendars were available for sale as a means to raise funds for future Geography Club events. During the winter months Geography Club consistently held “movie nights.” Documentaries often covering geographic topics were shown in Davis Hall. After the film, a discussion was held to give students the opportunity to reflect and present their point of view. Once the weather warmed up geocaching trips to Afton Forest Preserve were organized as well as maple syruping seminars at DeKalb Nature Center. With another productive and fun year behind us, Geography Club is eager to embark on more adventures starting in August.

Career Day

Geocaching

(post contributed by Joe Sepulveda)

Strong Geography/Meterology Presence at the Undergraduate Research & Artistry Day

2011-04-27T15:10:00.014-05:00

The following Geography and Meterology undergradatutes presented their research at the 2nd Annual Undergraduate Research & Artistry Day last week (4/20/2011).

Congratulations to Shana Harris, Kristina Rohrbach, Thomas Polvika, Phillip Jagielo, and Dr. David Changnon for placing second in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Category.

Trevor Edmonson

Josh Page

Sara Schultz

Rose Sengenberger, Alecia Osborne

Geography faculty and students honored

2011-04-18T13:57:00.015-05:00

The following Geography faculty and students were honored recently for their excellence:

1. Dr. Michael Konen received 2011 NIU Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. For more information, see http://today.niu.edu/2011/04/19/soil-tells-a-story/.

2. Clint Bailey was recognized by the The Soil Science Society of America as an outstanding graduating senior studying soils from universities across the country.

3. Tara Whipple was recognized as an Outstanding Graduate Student by the Graduate School of NIU.

Congratulations to all of them!

2010 GTU inductees

2010-12-07T21:49:00.002-06:00

The Department of Geography would like to welcome the 2010 inductees into Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), Iota Chapter. GTU is an international honor society in geography founded in 1928. Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. GTU chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness. Standing from left – Sarah Blue (Faculty), Ryan Coomer, Shannon McCarragher, Jacob Kruse, Alicia Lisowski, Steve Hamilton, Ata Shakir, Christine Carrier, Andrew Krmenec (Faculty Advisor), and Michaela Freidrichova. Sitting from left – Siqin Wang, Tara Whippo, Trevor Edmonson (President), and Michael Williams (Membership Chair). Not pictured – Benjamin Peterson, Daniel Weldon II, and Michael Schuch.

(Post contributed by Lenny Walther)

Christine Carrier won 1st place in student paper competition at AAG West Lakes meeting

2010-11-02T08:10:00.007-05:00

NIU Geography graduate student Christine Carrier won 1st place finish in the student paper competition at AAG West Lakes meeting held in in Macomb, IL, Oct. 21-23, 2010. She did an excellent job in writing the paper and presenting it at the conference. She received the highest point total among all entries. This award carries a check of $150, which will be sent directly from AAG central office in Washington, DC. Congratulations, Christine!

NIU hosted the 54th annual American Society of Agronomy Region 3 Soil Judging Contest

2010-10-27T17:51:00.010-05:00

Northern Illinois University hosted the 54th annual American Society of Agronomy Region 3 Soil Judging Contest on October 8 and 9. The contest took place in DeKalb and Kane Counties. Sixty-five individuals from six teams (Northern Illinois University, Purdue University, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point) participated in the contest.

The contest was organized by Dr. Mike Konen (NIU). Soil pits were dug by Ron Collman (USDA-NRCS) and Zach Weber (USDA-NRCS). Mark Bramstadt (USDA-NRCS), Bill Kreznor (Kreznor and Associates), Bruce Putman (Putman Soil Testing), and Jennifer Wollenweber (USDA-NRCS) served as the official judges for the contest. John Begun, Dean Johnson, Eldon Gould, NIU, Dunteman Turf Farms, and Garfield Farm Museum were gracious hosts that allowed soil pits to be located on their property. Plaques were provided by the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association. Approximately 15 members and friends of the Department of Geography assisted with grading scorecards during the contest. Leonard Walther put the final touches on the design of the plaques and t-shirts.

NIU Geography soil judging team took home 3rd place in both the Group and Team events. Clint Bailey won 3rd place finish in the individual event. NIU team members included: Clint Bailey, Trevor Edmonson, Jacob Kruse, Jennifer LeVine, Wesley Poggenpohl, Ellyn Raimondi, Ryan Strelcheck, Ashley Warren, Norman Yackle. Alicia Lisowski and Steve Hamilton (both NIU graduate students) coached the team.

The highest scoring individual from an Illinois university and winner of the Burton W. Ray Scholarship Award this year is Clint Bailey from Northern Illinois University.

The top three teams are eligible to participate in the national contest that will be hosted in the spring of 2011 by Oregon State University near Bend, Oregon. This is the third consecutive year the NIU team has qualified for the national contest.

Congratulations to all of them! Thanks to the judges, coaches, and volunteers!

Dr. Konen has the following to say: "I think I can speak for everyone involved in thanking the volunteers and landowners for all their hard work and hospitality and as usual everyone learned a great deal about soils, landscapes, hydrology, vegetation, and land-use and had fun while participating in the contest. I think back to my undergraduate days at Iowa State University and know that if it was not for the opportunity to participate in Soil Judging I would most likely not have ended up becoming a Pedologist and having the privilege in continuing to participate in this important educational field experience.

Thanks to all of you that have supported and continue to support Soil Judging!"

Official judges Jennifer Wollenweber (NIU graduate), Mark Bramstadt, Bruce Putman, and Bill Kreznor.

Northern Illinois University Soil Judging Team participating in group judging.

Volunteers and coaches grading scorecards during the contest.

Northern Illinois University Soil Judging Team.

Clint Bailey, Northern Illinois University. Winner of the Burton W. Ray Scholarship Award.

(post contributed by Dr. Mike Konen)

Geography Well Represented at the First NIU Run to Victory 5k/1 Mile Walk

2010-10-18T14:25:00.009-05:00

On a beautiful homecoming morning, when the Huskies would defeat Buffalo 45-14, Recreation Services held what was the first (of what hopefully will become an annual event) Run to Victory 5k/1 Mile Walk. The 5k course started at Anne’s Woods, with the first third of the course going through the neighborhood just east of campus and the last two thirds taking runners through campus near the Chick Evans Field House, past DuSable, Psych/Math, around the East Lagoon, north by the Art and Music buildings and ending near Anderson. Awards were given to overall winners, and top finisher in the following categories: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate student, faculty/staff and alumni. The Department of Geography was well represented at the race and in the winner’s circle with Michael Saxton placing 1st overall. Other winners were Josh Rynders (1st male senior), Meghan Fish (1st female senior), Dan Hansen (1st male grad) and Dawn Sibley (1st female staff). Geographers that also participated but not pictured were Jennifer LaVine, Colleen Mitchell and Alex Stalzer. Congratulations to all!

(Post contributed by Lenny Walther)

2010-10-04T20:50:00.017-05:00

Geography/Geology Softball 2010

On September 18th the Geography Club co-hosted a softball game against the Geology Club (SGE). The game was a success as we had professors and students play together on both sides and we hope to make this an annual event between the departments. The softball game was played on the field behind the Engineering building and Geology won 11-10. After the game both teams went to Edwardos for dinner to celebrate.

If you would like further information on Geography Club, please check the facebook group by searching "NIU Geography Club" for information on upcoming events.

(Post contributed by Trevor Edmonson)

Spring 2010 NIU Geography Colloquium Schedule

2010-01-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

Most Fridays between 3 and 4 pm, the Department of Geography hosts a colloquium in Davis Hall, Room 121. The colloquia provide a comfortable setting for innovative researchers both internal and external to NIU to share their work with NIU faculty, graduate students and the broader public. Critical and constructive discussion is encouraged in these settings. Listed below is the colloquium schedule for Spring 2010.

January 22: Dr. Michael Konen and Dr. Brandon Curry (Northern Illinois University)
January 29: "Finding Food in Metropolitan Chicago: Food Access, Food Justice, and Community Development" by Dr. Daniel Block (Chicago State University)
February 19: "Recording Insect Outbreaks with Tree Rings: Lessons from Cicadas and Pandora Moth" by Dr. James Speer (Indiana State University)
February 26: "Is there a choice to stay? The Global Ethics of Health Worker Migration." by Dr. Robert Huish (Dalhousie University)
March 5: "Climate Change Impact Assessments: Moving from the Local to the Global" by Dr. Julie Winkler (Michigan State University)
March 26: "Metabolism, Mortality, and Geography" by Dr. James Wilson (Northern Illinois University)
April 9, April 23 and April 28: Graduate Student Presentations (To be announced)

Research by NIU Geography Professor Supports Martian Ocean Hypothesis

2010-01-13T10:54:00.015-06:00

A recent study by NIU Geographer Wei Luo and Tomasz Stepinski (Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX) uses an innovative computer program to produce a more detailed global map of the valley networks on Mars based on topographic data. The findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Planets (Luo and Stepinski, 2009), suggest that Martian networks are more than twice as extensive (2.3 times longer in total length) as had been previously depicted.

Mars valley network

Further, regions that are most densely dissected by the valley networks roughly form a belt around the planet between the equator and mid-southern latitudes, consistent with a past climate scenario that included precipitation and the presence of an ocean covering a large portion of Mars’ northern hemisphere. Scientists have previously hypothesized that a single ocean existed on ancient Mars, but the issue has been hotly debated. Luo states, “all the evidence gathered by analyzing the valley network on the new map points to a particular climate scenario on early Mars that would have included rainfall and the existence of an ocean covering most of the northern hemisphere, or about one-third of the planet’s surface.”

Mars ocean

The research was funded in part by NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program. Together with Stepinski, Luo developed a global GIS database of drainage patterns on Mars. The database takes advantage of significant advances in machine cartography and consists of high resolution maps of Martian topography. The GIS database is a significant update to the only available global map of valley networks that was constructed in 1990s using Viking-era images. The Martian maps and a conversation with Dr. Luo is available via NIU's YouTube page.

Department Gears Up For Nat'l Geography Awareness Week '09

2009-11-11T19:51:00.007-06:00

The week of November 15-21 is National Geography Awareness week. The Geography Department will host several events to celebrate the event. Career-related events for students include a panel discussion with geography faculty about how to apply for graduate school on November 18th from 12-1pm in 103 Davis Hall. We will be hosting a GIS Night event from 6-8:30pm on November 18th in 114 Davis Hall (See last year's blog entry concerning GIS Night '08). Our celebrations of Geography Awareness Week culminate on November 20th with an annual Career Day event for students, alumni, and friends of Geography and Meteorology, that begins at 1pm in 121 Davis Hall.

Career Day is a long-running tradition in the Geography Department, when our alumni return to talk about the importance of geographic knowledge in the real world, share information about their work experiences, advise faculty and students on the status of geographic and meteorological careers, keep us abreast of educational requirements in these fields, and recruit students for internships and other career related experiences. This year, we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the commencement of our Ph.D. program in January 2010.

The National Geographic Society also sponsors activities related to this years theme of "Get lost in mapping: Find your place in the world!" From November 15-21, go to GeographyAwarenessWeek.org for games, activities, and lessons about mapping that you can do at home or at school, brought to you by National Geographic and partner organizations. Explore maps big and small, high-tech and low-tech!

At GeographyAwarenessWeek.org, you can piece together a poster-size map for your bedroom wall or a giant map for your school gymnasium. Take a virtual world tour with Google Earth and watch a video that explains how today's geospatial revolution is changing everything from shipping to warfare. Test your skills with the Expedition 2 game and a Mystery Location quiz. You can even join 100,000 "map activists" by participating in a blog-a-thon, hosting a Geography Awareness Week event, or signing up for the new GeoMentor program.

Post contributed by Dr. Sarah Blue

Students and Faculty Form NIU Geography Club and Revitalize GTU Honor Society Chapter

2009-11-03T08:46:00.013-06:00

In an effort to better connect students and faculty both inside and outside the classroom, geography students have urged the formation of an NIU Geography Club. The club has already met several times this fall semester and has planned off-campus events and outreach activities to engage students and bolster membership. Current officers of the NIU Geography Club are: Joe Sepulveda (President), Andrew Bogda (Vice President), Rachael Poll (Secretary), Adam Rasmussen (Treasurer) and Trevor Edmonson (Public Relations Officer).

In addition to forming the NIU Geography Club, the department is revitalizing its Iota Gamma Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) which was established in 1965 but has been relatively dormant since the mid-1980s. GTU is an international academic honor society in geography that was founded in 1928. GTU's mission is to bring together university students who share a background and interest in geography and, more generally, support geographic knowledge and awareness.

We invite you to become active participants in these groups. Membership information is below.

Membership in the NIU Geography Club
Everyone is welcome to join who is a student at NIU. There is no cost for membership at this time. Anyone who is interested should join the club's facebook group (NIU Geography Club) or contact Dr. David Goldblum for additional information.

Membership in Gamma Theta Upsilon
Membership in GTU is a distinction that could, and should, be noted on a resume. Membership also qualifies you to apply for a variety of scholarships and offers the opportunity to hone your leadership skills through NIU's Iota Gamma Chapter activities and activities of the Geography Club. For more information about GTU, please see their website http://www.gammathetaupsilon.org. Membership in Gamma Theta Upsilon is based on academic performance and course work in geography. Your are eligible for membership if you have:

1) taken at least three geography courses (e.g., GEOG 105/106, 460 and 370);
2) achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 in all course work; and
3) achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 in all geography courses.

If you believe that you are eligible and would like to join NIU's GTU chapter, please email Dr. Andrew Krmenec your request. There is a mandatory initiation fee of $40. You would be responsible for $20; the other half of initiation fees to GTU will be paid through a one-time gift from a friend of the Department of Geography.

Post contributed by Trevor Edmonson, Andrew Krmenec and C. Scott Smith

NIU Geography Students Present Research, Win Award at ILGISA Conference

2009-10-30T18:12:00.015-05:00

NIU Geography seniors, Michaela Friedrichova and John Trishcan presented their research at the Illinois GIS Association (ILGISA) fall conference held at NIU's Naperville campus on October 6.

The title of Michaela's presentation was Creating a Customized Google Map: A Case Study of Tai Toponyms in Southern China and Thailand. She used ArcMap2GMap to convert shapefiles of Tai toponyms to a Google Map format with built-in JavaScript, which can be fully customized to show multiple visible layers in Tai and Chinese fonts. The custom Google Map--available at http://www.niu.edu/landform/taiplacenames.html--can be used to visualize and explore the spatial distribution of Tai toponyms and their relationship with the physical environment.

Google Map created by Michaela Friedrichova and Dr. Wei Luo, Northern Illinois University, 2009

John's presentation concerned Estimating the Volume of Excavation of Martian Valley Networks. He used Black Top Hat transformation, an image processing technique, to extract valley depth from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data and estimated the volume of selected valley networks on Mars. Valley networks are river-like features on Mars that may contain important information about past climate and water on Mars. Estimating their volume can help determine the amount water needed to form them and the rate of erosion.

This was the first professional presentation for both Michaela and John and they learned a lot from this experience. They both have been working with Dr. Wei Luo since this summer.

Melissa Burlingame, an NIU Geography graduate student, won ILGISA's People's Choice Award for her the poster she presented, entitled, Evaluating Land Cover Changes Over Time.

Map created by Melissa Burlingame

Melissa's research examines how county-wide assessment of natural resource management policies may be improved with access to readily-available data and easily-interpretable measures. Kane County, Illinois was chosen as the study area due, in part, to its rapid urban development over the past decade. Publicly available land cover data from the US Department of Agriculture (National Agriculture Statistics Service –NASS) were used together with FRAGSTATS, a landscape ecology freeware package, to examine land cover changes and evaluate the degree to which these analyses may inform conservation policy decisions. Melissa's preliminary findings suggest that Kane County has made progress toward conserving forest, wetland, and pasture land over the study period.

Congratulations NIU Geography students on your impressive work!

Post contributed by Dr. Wei Luo and C. Scott Smith

NIU Geography Soil Judging Team Advances to National Competition

2009-10-25T17:46:00.015-05:00

Observation is often the first step toward understanding in science. For student members of NIU's Soil Judging Team, observation is also the key to determining the nature of a soil, how it formed, what types of vegetation it can support, how well it drains, and its ability to safely bear homes, buildings, and roads.

Individual Soil Judging (left) and Team Soil Judging (right)

For the third year in a row, a team of students from Northern Illinois University competed in soil judging against teams from universities in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan and, for the second year in a row, NIU's soil judging team demonstrated their outstanding skills in observation and interpretation. NIU's team of TJ Abell, Clint Bailey, Aaron Browning, Paul Gruca, Amber Singer, and Norman Yackle placed second overall in the Region 3 Soil Judging contest held in early October near West Lafayette, Indiana. Two of the team's members medaled in the individual competition, with Aaron Browning placing second and Clint Bailey placing fifth. This year's Region 3 Collegiate Soils Contest was hosted by Purdue University and the Indiana Association of Professional Soil Classifiers. By virtue of its second place score, NIU's Soil Judging Team is eligible to compete in the 50th Anniversary National Collegiate Soils Competition to be held in Lubbock, Texas in March 2010. Congratulations!

NIU's Soil Judging Team: TJ Abell, Clint Bailey, Aaron Browning, Paul Gruca, Amber Singer, Norman Yackle and Alicia Lisowski

The NIU Soil Judging Team is coached by Dr. Mike Konen, Associate Professor of Geography, and Alicia Lisowski, MS-candidate in Geography.

Post contributed by Dr. Andrew Krmenec

NIU Geography Reaps Awards at ILGISA Conference

2009-05-04T12:19:00.021-05:00

Several members of the NIU Geography Department traveled to Champaign, Illinois this month to participate in the Spring 2009 Illinois Geographic Information Systems Association (ILGISA) conference. ILGISA seeks to advance the understanding, development and effectiveness of GIS by facilitating dialog among a wide range of GIS practitioners including students, academics and private and public professionals. ILGISA's biannual conferences provide opportunities to make these connections via poster exhibitions, workshops and other knowledge sharing sessions.

Leonard Walther's award-winning Champaign-Urbana Area Bicycle Map (PDF) created for the League of Illinois Bicyclists.

An important component of the ILGISA gatherings is the recognition of individuals for their scholastic and professional work. We are proud that NIU Geography received four awards during the Spring 2009 conference, namely: (1) Jennifer Outcalt (left) received the ILGISA Outstanding Student Achievement Award; (2) Cynthia Vogel, NIU undergraduate student, won the ILGISA Student Paper Competition; (3) Zach Schmitt, NIU graduate student, won the ILGISA Student Poster Competition; and (4) Leonard Walther, NIU Geography Cartographer, won the ILGISA Professional Map Competition. In addition, Jeremy Spencer and Assistant Professor Scott Smith presented their work at the conference this spring. Congratulations and thanks for participating!

Zach Schmitt (left) stands next to his award-winning poster, Seasonal Variations of Population Exposure to Sulfur Dioxide in the Chicagoland Area; Jeremy Spencer (right) with his poster Winter Weather Fatalities in the Coterminous United States: 1993-2007.

Outstanding Women in Geography

2009-04-30T12:54:00.021-05:00

On Sunday, April 19th, three women geographers were presented awards at NIU's annual Outstanding Women Awards Ceremony. Jericho Winter and Monica Zappa, two of Geography's master's students received NIU's Outstanding Women Student Awards. Both Jericho and Monica have excelled in their coursework and strengthened the NIU geography department through their service (including regular Friday night community building efforts) all while managing to complete their master's theses in two years. The Department of Geography thanks them for their contributions and wishes them and all 2009 geography graduates the best as they continue their life adventures.

NIU Graduate students Jericho Winter (left) and Monica Zappa (right) receiving their awards from Provost Ray Alden

Geography professor Lesley Rigg experienced a windfall of awards this month. First Lesley was presented the prestigious Wilma D. Stricklin Award for Enhancement of the Climate for Women on Campus. The competitive award, presented by the President's Commission on the Status of Women, was presented to Lesley based on highly favorable nominations submitted this past January.

Professor Lesley Rigg receiving award from Provost Ray Alden

In addition, Professor Rigg received the Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Lesley was an ideal candidate for this award given her ability to instill and develop in students an intensity of interest and appreciation for the value of geography (biogeography, in particular). Lesley is well respected and esteemed by students for her extraordinary commitment to their education and welfare. Overall, Professor Rigg has been a strong force in promoting women in science and women's safety and self-defense on campus. She is an inspirational mentor whose contribution to the NIU community is truly outstanding.

Congratulations Lesley, Jericho and Monica for your outstanding research and service!

Post contributed by Dr. Sarah Blue

NIU Graduate Student Research: Systematic Evaluation of Prairie Planting Regimes

2009-04-03T10:31:00.018-05:00

Conservation ecologists over the past several decades have sought to better understand the factors that promote biodiversity in and the resilience of ecological systems. In order to forward this effort, Brian Glaves, an NIU Geography graduate student, engaged in an experiment to identify the optimal amount or density of native seed required to produce a successful prairie planting.

Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) blooming within Nachusa Grasslands

Brian's project was situated within the idyllic 3,000 acre Nachusa Grasslands, a conservation area in north central Illinois. The project was an extension of a previous experiment carried out in 2006 by Bill Kleiman who, along with numerous volunteers, manages the grasslands. For this earlier experiment, Kleiman applied a dry mesic mix of native Nachusa Grasslands seeds to a smaller region of the conservation area known as Clear Creek Knolls. This seed density experiment established a 3 x 5 systematic random quadrant design in which one of four categories of seed density treatments (10, 30, 50 and 70 pounds per acre) were applied or dispersed. The seeding was replicated three times with each treatment assigned randomly to a (9m x 9m) quadrant in order to control for local variation. The systematic random quadrant design provided a standard method for examining and recording the performance of each treatment relative to each other and a control group.

In the summer months of June, July and August 2008, Brian began a systematic recording of floristic data from the 2006 planting. Specifically, Brian measured species richness, species density, percent flora cover and species height. A variety of indices such as the Shannon-Weiner diversity index (i.e., frequency and evenness of each species within the community), Simpson's dominance index (i.e., a measure of the dominance of any one species) and a Floristic Quality Index were then used to characterize the data collected in the field and examine the relative performance of each seed density regime.

Brian's results showed no statistically significant difference between the various indices across the four categories of seed density treatments, although some general trends were apparent. For example, lower seed density treatments tended to exhibit higher Simpson's (dominance) values (Figure on left), while greater densities exhibited higher Shannon-Weiner (diversity) values (Figure on right). The Forensic Quality Indices also suggest that treatments were significantly different from the control (One-way ANOVA, p=0.05) but not to each other. Further, the total plant cover varied over the study periods such that plant cover as observed in June was statistically different from the plant cover observed in July and August. This was in part due to the greater abundance of exotic species earlier in the season. Lastly, the data suggest that individual species tended to be better represented after applying the 50 pounds per acre seed density treatment. In fact, the statistical analyses suggest that the 50 pounds per acre seed density treatment (rather than the more resource intensive 70 pound treatment) was the best option for Nachusa Grasslands prairie restoration while the 30 pounds per acre treatment was acceptable.

Summer Crew at Nachusa Grasslands, 2008
Brian Glaves (front, right), Bill Kleiman-Manager of Nachusa Grasslands (left of Brian Glaves)

So why is this research important? Most research to date on seed density applications for prairie restoration has been rather informal in its analysis of planting regimes. Brian's research puts forward a more scientifically rigorous strategy for evaluating successful prairie planting. In particular, what this experiment showed is that prairie restoration seeding practices can be defined within rather clear ranges, in this case 30 to 50 pounds of seed per acre.

Geographic Communication--Appreciating NIU's Cartography Lab

2009-04-01T10:46:00.014-05:00

What distinguishes geography from other sciences is its attention to the production, interpretation and communication of geographic information. For geographers, maps are oftentimes the common semantic, the objects through which they communicate with each other and the broader community.

Mesoscale Convective Systems. Research by Bentley, et al. (Left)
Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Tornado Fatalities in the U.S. Research by Ashley (Right)

The NIU Department of Geography Cartography Lab is especially interested in high quality cartographic communication. Established in 1965, the Cartography Lab has an impressive history of producing elegant and functional maps for research, government and not-for-profit communities. The cartographic creativity of Leonard Walther and Jodi Heitkamp--the lab's full time personnel--is perhaps best exemplified in their large-scale maps depicting the research of NIU Geography faculty. These eye-catching posters adorn the walls of NIU Geography's Davis Hall, and encourage passersby to read the latest scientific findings.

Collaborations with off-campus entities have also provided opportunities for the Cartography Lab to distribute spatial knowledge and forward geographic literacy. One example is a map produced for the The Northern Illinois Food Bank which was used to inform the strategic placement of distribution centers and food pantries. More recently, the Cartography Lab allied with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to develop a series of bicycle maps. Over 800,000 of these maps have been distributed by IDOT over the past decade, making it a hit among Illinois' outdoor enthusiasts. The Kane County Bicycle Map (Figure on right), for example, is free to the public and features existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian trails, bicycle level of service ratings for selected roadways, points of interest and major destinations, mile markers, and information on trail etiquette, sharing the trail (and the road) and bicycle safety. This map has been especially popular with the public and has received numerous awards including the Soles and Spokes Award for Excellence from the Chicago Area Transportation Study and an Honorable Mention in the planning category from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. The League of Illinois Bicyclists has also commissioned the Cartography Lab to produce similar multi-modal maps for the City of Aurora.

The Cartography Lab also shares its cartographic knowledge via teaching and other pedagogical activities. One popular independent study course (GEOG 467) centers around the design and production of a cartographic product such as a large-scale printed map, folded brochure, or small booklet. Students are encouraged to work with an outside organization who may want a map to fulfill a particular objective. In this way, students learn to work with real-world clients by co-designing geographic products that meet their needs. This independent study is popular not only because of its practical application but also because of its personalized instruction. The maximum course load of four means students are able to work closely with Cartography Lab staff on a regular basis, thereby acquiring valuable experience in navigating the rather complicated design and translation tools available in today's advanced cartographic software.

NIU Geography Student Research: Social Vulnerability and Natural Hazards

2009-02-16T21:15:00.012-06:00

Natural disasters are becoming more deadly as climate change and coastal development combine to put populations at greater risk during extreme meteorological events. Less developed countries in particular have experienced disproportionately high numbers of fatalities during severe coastal storms.

Monica Zappa, an NIU Geography graduate student, has identified how social factors play a role in influencing vulnerability to natural hazards. Her research--which was generously funded by the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies at NIU--focused on the community of Bluefields which is located along the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. Bluefields is a culturally diverse and geographically secluded community comprised of several indigenous goups, many of whom live in extreme poverty. Bluefields also has a history of devastating hurricane events, the most recent being Hurricane Joan in 1988.

Monica began her research by examining various cultural, economic, and political factors that are conventionally used to evaluate vulnerability to natural hazards at the regional and national levels. However Monica's research differs from previous studies in that it also focuses on fine-scale dimensions of vulnerability. By shifting the analysis from a national and regional scale to the individual and community level, Monica was better able to explain how perceptions of risk contribute to vulnerability.

Monica used a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach to identify the socio-spatial determinants of vulnerability to hurricane events. Qualitative methodological procedures including surveys, interviews, and participant observations were employed within the community of Bluefields. These procedures were adopted because of their ability to account for the rich, contextual and social ecological aspects that help shape the community's perceptions regarding extreme meteorological events such as hurricanes.

Results from this research indicate that factors such as trust in government, past experiences, and socio-economic status greatly influence individual risk perceptions. For example, people who experienced severe meteorological events in the past (e.g., Hurricane Joan) are considerably more aware and prepared for the threat of hurricanes in the future, and thus less vulnerable to these hazards. In contrast, subjects who migrated to Bluefields after 1988, or those in the community who were not old enough to remember Hurricane Joan, tended to be less concerned about the potential impact of future hurricanes and thus more vulnerable.

This research found that rapid urbanization has also served to increase vulnerability among populations residing within the study area. At 2,000 new residents per year, the rate of migration into Bluefields is outpacing the capacity for the community to provide adequate housing. As a result, newcomers are moving into informal dwellings made of substandard materials and located in marginal environments that are vulnerable to floods and storm surges.

Overall, Monica's findings lend insight into the complex social constructions of vulnerability as well as the steps needed to protect populations in remote areas from future natural disasters.

Spring 2009 NIU Geography Colloquium Schedule

2009-01-09T09:52:00.003-06:00

The Department of Geography Graduate Student Colloquium Committee recently released the spring 2009 colloquium series. Colloquia are open to students, faculty, and the broader public and take place Fridays between 3 and 4 pm in Davis Hall, Room 121.

January 23: "How Will Species Respond to Current Climate Changes? Lessons from the Last Deglaciation." by Dr. Jack Williams (University of Wisconsin - Madison)

February 6: "Geographic Perspective of Railroad Safety in Illinois" by Stephen C. Laffey (Illinois Commerce Commission)

February 20: Graduate Student Presentations

February 27: "Computer Simulation Responses to Global Change at the Alpine Treeline" by Dr. George Malanson (University of Iowa)

March 6: Graduate Student Presentations

March 20: "Water Resources and Environmental Issues" by Dr. Mohamed Sultan (Western Michigan University)

April 3: "Climate-Economic Models and Uncertainties" by Dr. Donald A. Hanson (Argonne National Laboratory)

April 10: "Woody Vegetation Change, Carbon Storage, and Climate Change Mitigation" by Dr. William Currie (University of Michigan)

April 17: "Modeling Seasonal Spread of Soybean Rust in North America" by Dr. Scott Isard (Penn State University)

April 24: "The Biogeography of Forest Change: Crown Fire, Insect Epidemics, and Drought in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the American Southwest" by Dr. Joy Nystrom Mast (Carthage College)

April 27 & 29: Graduate Student Presentations

NIU Graduate Student Research: Geographic Variations in the Response of Sugar Maple's Germination to Temperature Change

2008-12-24T12:39:00.012-06:00

Perhaps you are familiar with the helicopter-like projectiles that are launched each fall from sugar maple trees. Those helicopters, formally known as samaras (Latin for elm seed), are the means by which sugar maples propagate. Shannon McCarragher, a Northern Illinois University graduate student, spent the past two and a half years examining how climate change may ultimately influence the germination of sugar maple seeds; an important consideration given the socioeconomic and ecological importance of this species throughout its range in eastern North America.

To begin this research, Shannon gathered and purchased upwards of 34,000 sugar maple seeds from the northern, central and southern portions of the species native range. A portion of these seeds were then subjected to a series of laboratory growth chamber experiments designed to examine the response of seeds from these three, geographically diverse source regions to elevated temperatures; or, more specifically, how 1 °C, 7 °C and 14 °C increases above optimal germination temperature affect the viability of sugar maple seeds. The results from these lab experiments suggest that germination rates at 1 °C and 7 °C above optimal germination temperatures do not significantly vary across the three seed source regions . However, a 14 °C increase in temperature did prevent germination for the northern seed source, suggesting that temperatures can reach a level at which they cause local sugar maple extinction. And while this 14 °C increase in temperature did not prohibit germination for the central or southern seeds, it did suppress their germination rate considerably.

Shannon also carried out reciprocal transplant field experiments that compared the germination and subsequent growth rate of seeds from the three sources that she manually dispersed into sites in Illinois (central) and Michigan (northern) . First year data collected from these field-based experiments showed that northern range seeds germinated at higher rates within the northern field site, but germinated at relatively lower rates in the Illinois site; suggesting that seeds from sugar maples current northern limit might respond unfavorably to climate change. However, second year data revealed that the northern seedlings, while initially abundant, also had the highest mortality rate and lowest growth rate at both the northern and central sites compared to seedlings derived from the central and southern seeds. The field-based experiments ultimately revealed that the seedlings germinated from the southern source seeds would likely survive a northward shift despite having initially lower germination rates.

So why is this research important? Sugar maple seeds possess the unique characteristic of germinating most favorably at 1 °C under snowpack and, to date, it is important to know how the projected increase in the average global surface temperature (0.3 °C - 6.4 °C by the end of the 21st century) will affect the regeneration success of this important tree species. Therefore, studies are needed to identify environmental thresholds that are critical to sugar maple ecology.

GIS Night at NIU

2008-11-20T10:25:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, November 19, the NIU Department of Geography hosted GIS Night as part of the global GIS Day event. Geographic information systems (GIS) Day--which began in 1987 as part of Geographic Awareness Week--provides a forum for showcasing spatial technologies and applied GIS projects that are making a difference in the world. NIU's GIS Night was one of several events that took place across more than 80 countries.

NIU's GIS Night encouraged participants to engage in a range of interactive exercises using cutting edge geographic technologies. The event also provided an opportunity for spatial scientists at NIU to exchange knowledge with the broader community. Some of the featured activities included:

Exploring and analyzing the valley networks on Mars through a WebGIS
Finding your home and property information using DeKalb County's WebGIS
Locating and viewing farmlands that are being encroached upon by urban sprawl
Navigating your way on NIU campus through the Virtual Campus Map
Exploring the NIU campus in 3D
Experiencing the 3D Virtual Reality Lab
Viewing faculty and student projects and demonstrations
Talking to NIU students, faculty and GIS professionals

Geography Staff Members Recognized for Service

2008-11-01T09:53:00.001-05:00

Geography office staff members, Dawn Sibley (right) and Barb Voga (center) are shown receiving their MyNIU service recognition awards from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. As many of our students know, MyNIU is a student records database system integrating all aspects of students' progress through NIU from the time of application through to graduation. Students utilize MyNIU to register for courses, select a major (or minor or certificate), pay Bursar's bills, manage their student aid, and verify completion of requirements for the degree. NIU's conversion to this single integrated database systems was a massive undertaking, filled with all sorts of challenges. Since most of those "challenges" could only be experienced by users of the new system, not the system's developers, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences specifically sought to identify those exceptional office staff and advisors who patiently identified bottlenecks and problems in the new system and assisted developers by documenting the problem and by testing and retesting system fixes.

Barb was recognized for her work with the new course scheduling system, from the challenge of linking multiple lab sections of a course with a single lecture section to scheduling labs and classes into rooms not listed in the database as "class rooms." Dawn was recognized for her work in verifying the department's majors, minors, and certificate students in MyNIU (more than 250), for manually entering all 200+ student names into advisement lists in MyNIU so that department advisors could access student records, and for providing advisors with paper copies of incoming transfer student records and assisting those new students with course registration through the summer 2008 transition period.

Barb, Dawn and numerous other MyNIU "heroes" were honored by the College at a September 26th reception held in the Clara Sperling Sky Room.

NIU Geography Students Qualify for National Soil Judging Competition

2008-09-15T12:00:00.004-05:00

A team of NIU students qualified for the American Society of Agronomy's (ASA) national soil judging contest after placing first and third in the regional group and team competitions (respectively) hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point this week. NIU's soil judging team consisted of undergraduate geography and geology students and was "coached" by Associate Professor Mike Konen, with assistance from geography graduate students Jericho Winter and Zach Ankrom.

The ASA soil judging contests challenge competitors to correctly identify and classify the properties of selected soil horizons as well as interpret the suitability of the soils for various land use activities. Preparation for the regional competition involved classroom-based examination of geologic and soil maps and four days of field-based preparation near Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

The competition provided an opportunity for NIU students to not only hone their applied soil science skills--which are much sought after by universities, government agencies, and agricultural and environmental consulting companies--but also develop constructive relationships with students from neighboring universities. The six-person NIU team is currently preparing for the national competition which will be located in Missouri in spring 2009.

See more pictures taken at the regional competition.

Fall 2008 NIU Geography Colloquium Schedule

2008-08-15T11:42:00.004-05:00

September 5: Tornadogenesis and the Nature of Tornadoes by Dr. Paul Sirvatka (College of DuPage)
September 12: The Feedback between Deforestation and Climate in Amazonia by Dr. Somnath Roy (University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign)
September 26: “The Microphysical and Radiative Properties of Tropical Cirrus Observed During TWP-ICE: Implications for Climate Studies by Dr. Greg McFarquhar (University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign)
October 10: Rescaling the ‘Alien’, Rescaling Personhood: Neoliberalism, Immigration, and the State by Dr. Monica Varsanyi (City University of New York)
October 24: The Carbon Cycle and Climate Change by Dr. Atul Jain (University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign)
November 7: Emerging Water Quality Challenges Facing the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: An Overview of the Issues and Associated Research by Dr. Thomas Granato (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)
November 14: Climate/Vegetation Interactions Simulated in Global Models by Dr. Samuel Levis (National Center for Atmospheric Research)