
Highlights from the 2017 Annual Meeting in Boston
The American Association of Geographers 2017 Annual Meeting in Boston, Mass., hosted 9,400 geographers, GIS specialists, environmental scientists, and other registrants from around the world sharing the very latest in research, policy, and applications in geography, sustainability, and GIScience. Of those attending, thousands, representing approximately 36 percent of all attendees came from countries other than the U.S.A., which continues a steady trend toward increased international participation at AAG Meetings.
This year, attendees came from 90 different countries. The largest participation of scholars from outside of the U.S. came from Canada, the U.K., China, Germany, Australia, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, Brazil, Belgium, Finland, among many others. The international attendance greatly enriched the intellectual and social events throughout the week-long conference.

The AAG Annual Meeting also featured several diversely themed research tracks and special events, many with strong international dimensions. The Opening Presidential Plenary organized by AAG President Glen MacDonald, titled Geographies of Bread and Water in the 21st Century in which panelists discussed the challenges to food and water security over the 21st century representing an increasing and potentially existential threat to global society.

Bednarz's past presidential address Locating Geography Education explored the evolving role, nature, and relevance of geography education as viewed by former presidents of the AAG from 1910 to the present. She also presented this year’s AAG Presidential Achievement Award to Roger Downs, professor of geography at Penn State. She said, "Downs is a scholar, excellent administrator, and guiding light for geographers interested in teaching and learning." Additional distinguished awards, including AAG Honors, were conveyed during the AAG Awards Luncheon on the final day of the conference.

Noam Chomsky’s wide-ranging intellect and impassioned work have long inspired geographers. And his highly-regarded contributions on contemporary topics concerning globalization and the intersections between geography, economics and politics are of great interest to AAG members. The AAG Atlas Award is designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding, internationally-recognized leaders who advance world understanding in exceptional ways. The image of Atlas bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders is a powerful metaphor for this award program, as our nominees are those who have taken the weight of the world on their shoulders and moved it forward, whether in science, politics, scholarship, or the arts.

The 28th annual World Geography Bowl ended with the Great Plains/Rocky Mountains Division team winning first place.
A record number of attendees joined in celebrating the release of The International Encyclopedia of Geography. The reception was an opportunity to see old friends and meet colleagues during the Annual Meeting in Boston. Attendees enjoyed food, drinks, music, and interaction with IEG authors and editors. Flipside provided the lively entertainment that the kept the party going late into the evening.

Other themes developed for the Boston meeting were: Mainstreaming Human Rights in Geography and the AAG and Uncertainty and Context in Geography and GIScience. Poster session themes included Human Geography, Physical Geography and Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T).


Wide-ranging plenaries and special events included notable speakers, such as 2017 Honorary Geographer James Hansen, as well as Rush Holt, CEO of AAAS. Other sessions included Need for Public Intellectuals in a Trump America: Strategies for Communication, Engagement, and Advocacy with AAG Vice President Derek Alderman from U. of Tennessee, Meg Gilley from COMPASS, Joshua Inwood from Penn State, Sriram Khe from Western Oregon U, William Moseley from Macalester College, Rebecca Maria Torres from U. of Texas—Austin, Joseph Wood from U. of Baltimore and Willie Wright from UNC; The 2016 U.S. Elections: Implications for Geography and Beyond with a panel of past AAG presidents and others; Linking Geographical Science to Policy: Opportunities at the U.S. National Academies of Science with Carol Harden from U. of Tennessee, Anthony Bebbington from Clark U., Nancy Jackson from New Jersey Institute of Technology, William Solecki from Hunter College - CUNY, Marilyn Brown from Georgia Institute of Technology, Michael Jerrett from U. of California and Thomas Baerwald; International Human Rights Priorities: Featured Perspectives with Terry Rockefeller from Amnesty International USA, Antoinette WinklerPrins from Johns Hopkins, Beth Simmons from U. Penn and Jessica Wyndham from AAAS; A New Map of Global Ecological Marine Units (EMUs) - An Environmental Stratification Approach with Roger Sayre from USGS and Esri's Dawn Wright and Charlie Frye; and Coast Guard Challenges in a Dynamic Environment with Coast Guard Rear Admiral Steven Poulin and AAG's John Wertman. Friends and colleagues also gathered to remember Tom Wilbanks, Karl Butzer, Susan Christopherson, Doreen Massey, Stephen White and William Bunge, among others, during several special tributes.


Organized by AAG, the new, unique work-study program, Emerging Workforce Scholars, took place over three days during the annual meeting. The AAG partnered with Boston regional workforce development leaders in the government and nonprofit sectors to identify and engage qualified, aspirational members of underserved communities and address well documented gaps in preparation for job market success. Scholarships were limited to members of Boston area workforce programs and are directly driven by sponsorship support. 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.
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