Ross MacKinnon

Ross MacKinnon, scholar and administrative leader at UConn, SUNY-Buffalo, and the University of Toronto, passed away from pancreatic cancer at his home in Sonoma, California, surrounded by family, on Jan. 27, 2025, at the age of 82.

As a geographer, he was well-versed in the development of mathematical models for geographical systems, and he made particular contributions to geography through the application of these models to the fields of transportation and migration.

Ross grew up in New Westminster, Trail, and Kelowna, British Columbia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of British Columbia in 1964. He was a Woodrow Wilson Scholar, earning a Master of Science in geography from Northwestern University in 1966, and a Ph.D. in geography from Northwestern University in 1968. He was a faculty member of the University of Toronto’s geography department, where he became a Director of Graduate Studies. He joined SUNY-Buffalo in 1976 as Chair of the geography department and later became Dean of Social Sciences. He joined UConn as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1996 until he retired in 2008. He championed major investments in hiring, research, academic programing, and most importantly … people.

From Dr. Peter A. Rogerson, one of Dr. MacKinnon’s advisees at SUNY-Buffalo:

Ross MacKinnon was my Ph.D. advisor, and I’ll begin by literally “turning back the clock.”  Somewhat more than midway through my dissertation defense, I made a statement to the effect that I was running out of time. Ross immediately got up, went over to the wall clock, and turned the hand back ten minutes. That is just a small story hinting at the many ways that he showed his support over the years. He was proactive when it came to students and recruitment — while I was taking a gap year after doing my M.A. with him at the University of Toronto, he wrote to me, convincing me to do my Ph.D. at Buffalo, where he was beginning to build the department in his new role as Chair. During my first AAG, he and I split the presentation of our joint paper. Aside from recalling how much my knees were shaking, I can now recall all of his colleagues he introduced me to — and although I didn’t have a clue at the time, I now recognize how this was one of the most important moments in my career. Over time I saw the time he spent with students, the care he took with them, and how important his mentorship was to their careers. A long line of his students and eventual professors went on to have very successful careers.

One of his traits that I always marveled at was his ability to “cut to the chase.”  As a student this took the form of his knowing precisely what to ask a student.  He knew what you didn’t know and needed to know, and he was unequaled in asking exactly the right question at the right time, to push you a little further. Later on, when I saw him in his roles as Chair and Dean, this took the form of sizing up both current and prospective faculty.  He simply had an uncanny knack for seeing precisely how both personality and talent could or could not contribute to a department or program.

He saw to all aspects of a department — seeing to it that we not only had excellent personnel, but a vibrant social life with picnics, happy hours, and the like. Oh, and by the way, at one of those department picnics, while playing the outfield in the annual softball game, I tried to gun down a runner at second base.  When I started my throw, I forgot that Ross was playing second base, and it was only while the ball was in mid-flight that I realized I should have made a softer throw. My last recollection was going to some emergency room or urgent care to see how his fingers were doing and thinking that this was not a good thing to do to your advisor.

Shortly before I arrived at Buffalo, budget cuts in the SUNY system led to very serious consideration of eliminating the department.  It is difficult to capture here, but his efforts were absolutely crucial and pivotal in keeping the department alive.

He was also central to putting the department on the road to prominence (and in fact it would not be an exaggeration to say that he did this single-handedly). Part of this was attributable to his vision and his judge of talent and promise, and part was due to his vision of, and his work toward a successful bid to bring the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) to Buffalo.

Ross MacKinnon was a “quick study” when it came to sizing up people’s academic potential, their personalities, and their current or potential contributions to a department or program. His sharp wit and sense of humor gave him the ability to make lightning-quick comments about how someone could or could not help a program, might or might not become a star in the discipline, etc. Listening to his evaluations often left one both laughing at the humor and impressed with his assessment, as well as being in awe of how he could combine the two so quickly. All of this made him a fantastic mentor, colleague, Chair, Dean, and friend.

Ross was a proud Canadian and naturalized U.S. citizen. He loved travel, a good meal with friends, live jazz, contemporary painting, new plays, his dog, and the Buffalo Bills. He had a great sense of humor and was quick with encouragement.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Hoskin, and his two daughters, Pam and Caroline MacKinnon.

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Resources

AAG JEDI Committee Resources for Defending Geographic Inquiry and Our Communities

Key values and ethical commitments held by geographers, including those encapsulated in the AAG Statement of Professional Ethics, have been challenged by presidential executive orders, Dear Colleague letters, and other executive branch actions. This resource guide aims to gather a usable set of materials to inform action across a range of issues and groups that have been directly targeted. Two throughlines in these documents are recommendations: 1) to refuse anticipatory obedience and its iterations of over-compliance or anticipatory compliance; and 2) to organize to assert rights as part of defending our communities.

We will add to and update with new material. Please message [email protected] with resources you would like to recommend.

Defending Immigrants

Statements

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending JEDI

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending Academic & Scientific Inquiry

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending LGBTQ+ People

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Data Repositories for Federal Agency Data

Digital Security

Statements, Research

Addressing Transnational Repression on Campuses in the United States. 2024. Freedom House

Organizing Networks & Resources

Legal Defense & Liability Insurance

Statements

(Check back for resources to be added)

Organizing Networks & Resources

Mental Health

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Perspectives

Places of Possibility: Resources for Challenging Times

Person holding their hands in the shape of a heart with sunlight in background

By Risha RaQuelle, Chief Strategy Officer

Photo of Risha Berry

In times of such profound transformation, it’s crucial to lean on the work and relationships we’ve built over years of collaboration. The strength of our professional networks, resources, and shared commitment is what helps sustain us through challenging periods.

The constraints and threats we face are real—anti-DEI legislation, funding elimination, and systemic shifts challenge the very fabric of our work. But despite these obstacles, we continue to press forward. AAG, like each of our members, is navigating the path forward Yet, we persist—in supporting your career, your well-being, and the values that unite us as a community.

We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the resources that sustain you. We’d also like to highlight some of the support AAG offers to contribute to your success and thriving.

For Individual AAG Members

Keep up your peer and mentoring network. Use the opportunities AAG offers for members to connect—through our Annual Meeting, career-focused sessions throughout the year, and local connections through the AAG Regional Divisions. As an AAG member, you are automatically part of your Regional Division, allowing you to engage with peers near you, strengthening community ties among geographers. The Regional Divisions also sponsor events focused on the next generation, from preliminaries for the World Geography Bowl to paper competitions and travel grants.

Your career matters, and we can help. From job search tools to liability insurance, AAG wants to help you navigate your career. The AAG Job Board lists opportunities in all sectors, at all levels of experience. AAG’s member-created Statement of Professional Ethics provides clarity and peer-sourced insight into the values and principles we seek to uphold in our discipline.

Communities of practice to support you.  AAG Specialty and Affinity Groups and Communities of Practice are designed to connect you with colleagues who share your expertise or interests. Your AAG membership makes you eligible for all of these communities of practice, which are renewed annually and carry their own modest dues, generally from $1 to $5 each year. These groups can serve as vital resources for advice, networking, and new opportunities.

Dedicated AAG staff can answer your questions. AAG’s Communities Team—Eddie McInerney and Mark Revell—can answer questions and support your participation in the Specialty/Affinity Group communities. You can also sign up for AAG’s regular JEDI Office hours.  JEDI Office Hours offer individuals and programmatic leaders the chance for one-on-one conversations about your ideas, experiences, and questions. Schedule a time to talk.

For Department Chairs and Program Leaders

AAG is strengthening tools to offer leaders of geography departments and programs new ways to protect and advance the discipline:

TLC-GRAM: This bridging inventory is designed to promote strategies for increasing belonging within the geography community, especially through strategic planning. We’ve curated a collection of resources, ideas, and initiatives, aimed at fostering inclusive and supportive environments that promote good governance and focus on making sure that all members of a community feel welcome and valued. If you have adapted this toolkit or have ideas for how to do so, we’d like to hear from you at [email protected].

State of Geography Dashboard: AAG’s repository for data on geography higher education as a field of study. These data provide insight into the educational landscape for geography in the U.S., as well as insights into the field that might inform dialogues within your institution, especially strategic planning.

Each summer, over the past years the Geography Faculty Development Alliance workshops have offered early-career geographers and department chairs support in pursuing their work in teaching, mentoring, and leadership.

The Healthy Departments Initiative addresses the challenges faced by geography departments. The HD Committee assists department chairs and provides practice information that can improve program quality. To find out more, contact [email protected]

For Protecting and Advancing Our Discipline

AAG offers ways to monitor and participate in activities on behalf of the geography discipline. AAG’s Advocacy Hub provides Information on AAG’s policy stances and recent advocacy efforts. Learn about our policy principles here.

Positions and Task Forces at AAG have taken up critical disciplinary questions that can aid your direction and decision making within our discipline. One of the core such documents for this moment is AAG’s Statement of Professional Ethics.

Visit our governance page to view reports of past AAG task forces and find out about current task forces, such as the Mentoring Task Force, which is examining how to expand mentoring opportunities within geography. AAG’s Professional Conduct Policy is also a foundational document that keeps all of us accountable to one another and sets the standard for professional conduct within our discipline.

Navigating Hostile Environments

Reflecting on the hostile working conditions that critical geographers have faced—attacks on tenure, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and challenges to academic unionization—I recognize the delicate balance between advocacy and pragmatic action. We, too, face shifting political landscapes. The AAG, like you, is navigating a world where decisions are made rapidly.

Here’s what I want you to know: The AAG is your member association. As a member, you are integral to how we adapt, educate, and advocate for the discipline of geography. We are a bridge, ensuring that geography remains a space where belonging is fostered, even when forces of othering try to dominate. Together, we can continue advocating for the values that matter most to our community, even as the political climate shifts.

Moving Forward Together

In closing, our commitment to promoting scholarly spaces, critical geographic research, and JEDI initiatives remains steadfast. We will continue to publicly affirm our dedication to advancing these principles through advocacy, awards, career-enabling functions, and providing access to training for students. By engaging in these efforts, we ensure that geography remains a space of possibility, even in increasingly inhospitable environments.

Through our annual meetings, regional gatherings, and resources, AAG offers opportunities to not only share research but also connect with others who understand the unique challenges we face. AAG will always be a space where ideas are shared freely, and all members are given the opportunity to contribute.

Let’s continue to work together—to build a future where geography and its practitioners can thrive, no matter the challenges we encounter.

The AAG Culture of Care column is an outreach initiative by the AAG JEDI Committee. Don’t forget to sign up for JEDI Office Hours. The current theme of Office Hours is An Ethos of Care in the Research Enterprise.

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Advocacy

Statement by AAG JEDI Committee: Recommitting to Our Core Values

Since January 20, 2025, over 100 Executive Orders have been issued together with a raft of “Dear Colleague” letters and other executive branch actions have resulted in funding freezes, audits and removal of identity and justice-related words from agencies, stop work orders, slashes to overhead rates for grant funding, and layoffs. These actions have sown chaos and distress. This shock and awe approach is awful. It has wreaked havoc on the education sector and seeks to curtail academic freedom of inquiry and teaching through funding mechanisms and ideological litmus tests. These actions take aim at issues, values, and people whom geographers hold close to our hearts and ethical commitments:

  • The indivisibility of justice. Racial justice, environmental justice, climate justice, gender justice, disability justice, social justice are interdependent and uphold one another.
  • Freedom of ethical inquiry and teaching: Our capacity to conduct research and teach can be eroded through austerity measures, including the shuttering of departments, indebtedness as the condition of study, and cuts to government funding of research. It can also be eroded by seeking to invalidate and legislate away entire areas of inquiry. As the association held in 2023, “Knowledge, accessible and freely offered, remains the best tool against intolerance and injustice. Whenever state-level actions are taken to suppress civil rights and academic freedom, they threaten the principles of equity, knowledge accessibility, and educational freedom that are the pillars of a healthy society. They also undermine the safety and fundamental human rights of LGBT2QIA+ people and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”
  • Transformation of our field and association: Geographers have been working to confront the field’s colonial past and histories of harmful research and exclusion. We have been actively working to transform the AAG to dismantle barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

During this difficult time, we affirm the AAG member-created Statement of Professional Ethics: “Our discipline of geography is stronger when we uphold equity, human rights, and educational freedom across the breadth of geographic inquiry. We appreciate the diversity of our members’ experiences and backgrounds, as well as the broad variety of ideas and approaches to geographic knowledge production.”

This commitment is enshrined in the AAG Statement of Professional Ethics. The AAG remains true to these ethical commitments and to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). We reaffirm our previous statements opposing cuts to HEGS at NSF, our opposition to “state-sponsored attacks on diversity initiatives and on critical studies of racial inequity across the United States,” and our support for critical inquiry and the rights and lives of LGBT2QIA+ people and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

We still have work to do and will continue our commitment and support for our members who have fought for human flourishing, fought for the Earth, and have fought to make this discipline responsible to and worthy of the world.

— The AAG JEDI Committee, February 2025

View JEDI Committee’s Resources for Defending Geographic Inquiry and Our Communities

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Resources

A Student’s Guide to the AAG Annual Meeting

AAG annual meeting attendees interact with AAG's giant inflatable globe during a break in the conference.

Attending an annual conference can be confusing and intimidating; regardless of whether you’re a first-time undergraduate attendee or a seasoned postgraduate student. At AAG, we want to do what we can to provide you with advice to cover all aspects of the Annual Meeting. Although this isn’t a comprehensive checklist, here are some tips and tricks to make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Preparing for the Meeting

Travel, Lodging, and Packing

There are many factors to consider in deciding where to stay, including cost, proximity to the meeting venue, and desired experience (e.g. access to a kitchen, neighborhood vs. downtown, ability to share accommodations). Different kinds of lodging offer different advantages: the conference hotel, nearby hotels, or an option such as AirBnB or VRBO. However, AAG does reserve discounted rooms in a nearby conference hotel at each annual meeting. Understandably, attendees will seek the best deal for lodging. Students can pool their expenses together and stay in accommodations with each other.

Note details about the local airport or train station you’ll be arriving in, and public transportation options. AAG tries to select conference locations that are walkable, with good public transportation, and we share what we learn about local transportation options in our conference information.

If it’s your first time attending a conference, consider this packing list from Rebecca Rice, author of PhD in Clothes, who provides guidance about work-life balance, professionalism, authenticity and style on the academic career path.  Make sure to pack shoes for easy walking—you’ll be doing a lot of walking even just inside the conference center. Think about the field trips and excursions you’d like to do, and pack shoes and outerwear for them.

Building your presentation

Whether you’re presenting a paper, poster, or attending a panel discussion, start building your presentation early. Ideally, working with a mentor can help you tailor your presentation to communicate the necessary findings and next steps of your work. You may also consider asking your department faculty and staff about their experiences attending past academic conferences. Seasoned attendees often have secret hacks or insight gained from first-hand experience.

If you are presenting, host a small social practice session with fellow students and faculty. This will allow you to time the presentation to keep within the allotted limit and to practice without a script. A practice session can also present opportunities for your colleagues to provide feedback or propose possible questions the audience is curious about.

It’s important to note that presenting is not required; If you’re an undergraduate, attending a conference gives you the opportunity to hear a wider variety of viewpoints, and can help in giving you a better impression of the discipline as a whole.

Review the Program

The AAG Annual Meeting program will be released about a month before the start of the conference. Take advantage of the available information to plan out your daily schedule by checking out familiar names, sessions related to your interests and research or abstracts which sound interesting to you.

To one side of the online program (the right side in 2025), you can refine your search by session type, modality, sponsor groups, or a curated track, which is a compilation of sessions put together with a common theme or goal. From special sessions and workshops to networking events, you can find every event listed in the program. Don’t forget to download the AAG Meeting app to keep up-to-date on the latest changes of events, reminders, and meeting information. Consult our tip sheet for quick set-up and user guidance or delve more deeply into the functions of the app with our user guide.

Attending the Conference

Check In

When planning your trip, typically plan to arrive at the conference the day before it starts. AAG’s on-site registration will open the afternoon before the first day of the event, so you will be able to go to the venue and check in to collect your name badge. It’s crucial to wear your badge when attending any event affiliated with the meeting. This will often be your first introduction to and from other attendees as you familiarize yourself with others.

Day-by-Day

With a day long schedule, it’s recommended to dress comfortably, bring a water bottle, and a snack. With numerous keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions constantly ongoing, the meeting will feel hectic and confusing. Embrace the experience! Narrow in on sessions that call out to you and take the time to gain insights from presenters in your research niche. Engage in Q&A sessions, introduce yourself to other students, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Networking doesn’t come easy, but with practice, it will come naturally over time. Students may take the time to prepare business cards and a brief elevator pitch about research interests or future goals. Get in touch with university professors and other students to start building a network of acquittances. Here are annual events that offer these opportunities. The best way to find these sessions are to filter the program by “AAG Events.”

  • Welcome Reception—The reception takes place on the first evening of the conference with drinks, bites, and space to mingle with other attendees.
  • Plenaries, Award Sessions, and Panels—With more than 1,000 sessions to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. AAG has several special types of sessions you can seek out in the program, from the special events to numerous awards sessions and plenary panels hosted by AAG Specialty groups.
  • World Geography Bowl—An AAG tradition is the World Geography Bowl, a fun, often fast-paced competition of student teams from AAG Regional Divisions. It’s a great opportunity to cheer on your peers, learn a few new things about geography, and mingle with other students.
  • Careers and Professional Development Center—Each year, AAG features a large track of over 50 panels, paper sessions, workshops, and networking events focused on career preparation and professional development for geographers. These sessions and events will take place throughout the entire conference in the Careers & Professional Development Center, a central hub for students, early-career professionals, job seekers, and other attendees to network and learn from professional geographers and develop strategies for finding employment in geography-related occupations.
  • Student Day—In addition to specialized offerings for students throughout the entire week, AAG works with student members to organize a full day of sessions dedicated to student research, methods training workshops, career planning & mentoring, and networking events and activities for students at all levels of higher education. Keep an eye out for the curated track and create your own schedule year after year.
  • Specialty and Affinity Group Business Meetings—AAG’s more than 75 specialty and affinity groups all have business meetings during the annual meeting. These meetings are usually small gatherings that provide excellent opportunities for you to discover an interesting community of your own—or several. The meetings are open to all AAG 2025 participants, and in fact many specialty and affinity groups see their business meetings as an important way to engage and recruit new members.

Conquer Your Fear of Missing Out

Take a break! Explore the area! It’s likely you won’t have time to attend everything you planned, and you may even skip an event you had slotted into your schedule to keep yourself from getting worn out. Many attendees are travelling from out of town, so this is an opportunity to connect with our host city. Specialty and Affinity Groups often organize field visits that align with their core interests that venture out to local neighborhoods, historical sites, or a hands-on engagement project. During the registration process, you can choose the workshops and field trips you’d like to participate in. If you are already registered, simply click the Register Now button on our website to access your registration and add events.

The Follow Up

Reflection and Outreach

As you travel home, take a moment to collect your thoughts. Make note of any interesting papers or suggested readings, save all contact details business cards, or make note of any plenaries that inspired you.

Remember our networking events? Follow up with new contacts after the conference to maintain relationships and explore potential collaborations. LinkedIn is a great way to maintain professional relationships as a network grows.

Take Advantage of AAG Resources

With your student membership, you can join a number of Affinity Groups or Specialty Groups that align with your research interests and stage of education. Specifically, the Community College, Undergraduate Student, and Graduate Student affinity groups strive to enhance the participation and representation of students within the organization and better prepare students for further study and careers in geography. Additionally, connecting with one of your nine Regional Divisions allows you to network with geographers and other members in an area located near you. Held annually each fall, Regional Division Meetings empower AAG members to connect around regional issues of significant importance.

Your membership also grants access to the AAG Job Board. If you’re looking to start your career in geography or transition to a new field or position, members can view hundreds of open positions from a variety of employers, upload a resume to help employers find you, and sign up for job alerts to be the first notified of open positions relevant to your job search or interest. If you’re looking to advance your education, explore our Guide to Geography Programs and Opportunities to take the important step to understand the different academic opportunities and how they align with your goals.

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On the Map

Sowing the Seeds for Food Sovereignty in Detroit

An urban farm plot of beds with crops and flowers sits in front of a building painted with an artistic mural, courtesy Michigan Urban Farming Initiative - MUFI
Photo courtesy Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI)

Urban agriculture is blossoming in Detroit, gaining recognition for its “green revolution,” through the rise of urban gardens and farms. With a total of 139 square miles or over 100,000 empty lots being vacant, this provides an opportunity to incorporate green spaces into communities throughout the city.

Urban gardening isn’t new to Detroiters. During the economic crisis of 1893, “Potato patches” helped feed hungry families and taught people how to grow their own food during times of social and economic crises. Later, in the 1970s, Mayor Coleman Young’s “Farm a Lot” program set an ambitious goal of transforming 3,000 empty lots into urban gardens. In the late 1960s the Black Panther party served breakfast to children in Black communities — highlighting the racialized gaps in funding from the United States government. The connections among community, mutual aid, and growing and providing food go far back in Detroit. Rather than working against each other, cooperatives and mutual aid programs ensure that groups can pull resources together to beat the system at its own game.

Detroit’s history of gardening, farming, and giving to neighbors shows how communities can move beyond food justice and into food sovereignty. Food justice addresses hunger at a basic level; food sovereignty takes it up a level to define, own, and dictate a food system. This in turn provides the earth with increased resilience to crises and climate impacts, in addition to promoting autonomy for communities. According to shakara tyler, co-executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, part of creating a just society and systems means, “shifting from extractive economy and reinvesting into the regenerative economy.”

The growth of urban agriculture in Detroit is a testament to the resilience and innovation of its people. Initiatives such as the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm and Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network are prime examples of how community-based organizations can catalyze change, serving as educational platforms for sustainable living. Explore gardens and organizations below to see how modern food sovereignty is inspiring Detroiters to create a deep praxis within other justice movements across local and state-wide levels.

View of plants growing in beds in an urban garden plot in Detroit, Michigan
Urban garden plot in Detroit, MI

 

Michigan Urban Farming Initiative

7432 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48202

Based in Detroit’s North End community, Michigan Urban Farming Initiative’s (MUFI) redevelopment of a three-acre area in Detroit’s North End, is being positioned as an “epicenter of urban agriculture.” With the goal of creating a sustainable “agrihood” with multiple projects, the campus is divided into thirds: production farming, interactive agriculture, and hardscaped spaces, such as their Community Resource Center. Since operating out of their new headquarters, MUFI has been able to grow and distribute over 50,000 pounds of produce (grown using organic methods) to over 2,000 households within 2-square miles at no cost to the recipients.

Oakland Avenue Urban Farm

9227 Goodwin St, Detroit, MI 48211

Operating out of Detroit’s North End neighborhood since 2010, the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm (OAUF) is “cultivating healthy foods, jobs, and active cultural spaces.” The “Farm” grows over 33 varieties of vegetables and fruits and operates a “Harvest on Demand” option with local farmers markets, allowing neighbors to have consistent access to produce. In addition to partnering with local chefs and nonprofits to distribute tens of thousands of hot meals across the city, OAUF provides training opportunities, manages a community land trust, and brings together youth to improve learning and leadership skills.

Keep Growing Detroit

1445 Adelaide St, Detroit, MI 48207

Keep Growing Detroit (KGD) is working to cultivate a food sovereign city where the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed by Detroiters are grown by residents within the city’s limits. Their Garden Resource Program (GRP) supports urban gardening in the city by providing high-quality resources to family, community, school, and market gardens located in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. Participants receive seeds, transplants, personalized garden assistance from staff, and a connection to an incredible network of gardeners, farmers, and advocates for a thriving food system across the city.

Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network

11000 W Mcnichols Rd Ste 103, Detroit, MI 48221

Another non-profit that aims to amplify and create sustainable and equitable food systems is the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN). The 7-acre urban “D-Town Farm” grows more than 36 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs with cultural and social significance, with the intention of farming what people want to eat and in high demand. Their work to shift the understanding of food, is a way to have sovereignty and learn about the importance of these systems. In addition to providing security, DBCFSN co-founded the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund with KGD and OAUF to support rebuilding black land wealth. Since 2020, over 239 awards have been made to residents, businesses, and organizations.

North End Agri-Arts Alley

Currently under-going construction

In March 2023, the city announced four new Arts Alley locations in North End, Detroit. Specifically, the North End Alley will be the first Agri-Arts alley as part of a federal grant to transform dilapidated alleys into artistic oases. Anchored by the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm in partnership with artists from the Oakland Avenue Artists Coalition, this green alley will complement the Oakland Avenue Farmer’s Market, North End Resource Center, Oakland Avenue Cooperative Greenhouse, and Black Bottom Garden Center. Major construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in late Spring 2025.

Urban farms and gardens are not just places to grow food; they are hubs of community activity, education, and empowerment. While the challenge remains to make these green spaces accessible to all, efforts are being made by the city to provide urban agriculture government guidance and infrastructure. In September 2023, the city of Detroit named Tepfirah Rushdan, former co-director of Keep Growing Detroit, its first director of Urban Agriculture. Over the past decade, the movement has seen substantial growth, transitioning from a few community gardens to a network of over 2,00 gardens and farms engaging nearly 20,000 Detroiters as of 2023.

Watch the webinar recording “Building Black Food Sovereignty in Detroit,” featuring shakara tyler, as part of our Preparing for the Detroit 2025 Annual Meeting webinar series.

You can register for the 2025 Annual Meeting field visit “Feeding a City: The Geography of Urban Food Systems” hosted by the Food and Agriculture Specialty Group to further explore Detroit’s urban food system landscapes.

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News

Program staff at the National Science Foundation’s Human Environment and Geographic Sciences have been terminated

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Perspectives

A Message of Hope and Action

Person holding their hands in the shape of a heart with sunlight in background

By Risha RaQuelle, Chief Strategy Officer

Photo of Risha Berry

In these times of rapid change, connection and community matter more than ever. AAG stands firm in our commitment to support and uplift our members, providing access to our member networks—networks necessary to navigate an evolving landscape. Through strategic planning, member-led initiatives, and resource development, we are building a future that reflects the resilience, creativity, and strength of geographers everywhere.

Together, we will sustain a thriving community where members can connect, contribute, and succeed—driven by the power of collective care and hope.

Charting a Bold New Course

AAG is actively preparing in collaboration with Council a new 10-year strategic plan and two staff-led 5-year operational plans to align organizational goals with the evolving needs of our members. These plans build on the strengths of our past while advancing a sustainable and forward-thinking agenda.

Members will play an essential role in shaping the 10-year plan. We invite all members to participate in upcoming listening sessions at the Annual Meeting. Your voice and perspectives will be key to ensuring that this plan reflects the collective needs and aspirations of our community

Our vision for growth

Forecasted last year, through our Request for Research Partnerships initiative, our vision for growth will continue to center member-driven grant partnerships to provide essential resources for meaningful work and programs. By investing in our members and fostering new networks of support, we are laying a foundation that sustains innovation and community engagement for years to come.

AAG’s renewed focus on connectivity is embodied in Communities@AAG, a newly aligned  organizational framework designed to enhance collaboration and resource-sharing across Specialty Groups, Affinity Groups, Communities of Practice, and Regional Divisions. This approach elevates community-driven programming and resource development through strategic grant seeking and member engagement.

Communities@AAG: Enhancing Connectivity and Collaboration

Communities@AAG represents a strategic organizational realignment that fosters networks of care, empowering geographers at every stage of their careers to connect, belong, and thrive. It is evolving into an all-hands approach by AAG staff, led by two key roles for AAG staff members dedicated to advancing this mission:

  • Community Impact Coordinator: (Eddie McInerney) Strengthens collaboration among member groups, including the 75 specialty and affinity groups, to foster equitable practices, share resources, and enhance member engagement. Eddie also monitors engagement opportunities around issues of importance to AAG members, in keeping with our Policy Principles.
  • Manager for Career Programs and Disciplinary Research (Mark Revell): Oversees professional development and research initiatives that align with AAG’s strategic goals, including expanding professional development offerings at the annual meeting, delivering comprehensive educational programming year-round, and enhancing AAG’s learning resources and disciplinary information to support students, professionals, and departments through essential services such as the Healthy Departments Initiative, Jobs Board and Guide to Geography Programs.

Building on Past Achievements

As we chart this new course, we are also reflecting on past efforts to ensure continuous improvement. In recent years, AAG has been developing leadership cohorts, improving our operations, piloting new programming formats, and refining community engagement strategies to be ready to support our members.

By partnering with members on efforts like Healthy Departments, the annual Geography Faculty Development Alliance workshops for both early career support and leadership development, and projects such as the Convening of Care and GAIA, we are creating sustainable pathways for innovative programming, professional development, and research. This approach ensures that our work is driven by and responsive to the needs of our membership.

We look forward to hearing from you. Join us at the listening sessions during the Annual Meeting and reach out to our Communities@AAG team to connect and get involved!

The AAG Culture of Care column is an outreach initiative by the AAG JEDI Committee. Don’t forget to sign up for JEDI Office Hours. The current theme of Office Hours is An Ethos of Care in the Research Enterprise.

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Featured Article

The Power and Synergy of Imagery and GIS

Russell G. Congalton

Black-and-white analog aerial photo of University of New Hampshire campus; Courtesy: Eastern Topographics, Wolfboro, NH
This photo is a black and white, analog aerial photograph of the University of New Hampshire campus taken on April 14, 2014. Courtesy Eastern Topographics, Wolfboro, NH

In the beginning there was the aerial photograph. Initially, only in black and white, but soon along came color to really brighten things up. So much information could be gleaned from these photographs without having to travel to sites yourself.  Not only could a viewer tell what the current conditions of the area were, but they could compare the area  to previous photos and see what changed. Then color infrared film was invented, giving us the ability to see in a wavelength of electromagnetic energy beyond what our eyes could see. The possibilities were endless. Applications included urban planning, crop monitoring, forest characterization, water quality analysis, and disaster relief among many others.

While photographs taken with film were very powerful, images acquired digitally using a sensor system or a camera were even more so. Satellites were launched that imaged the earth repeatedly and regularly. Initially, these images did not have the same amount of detail (spatial resolution) as the analog photographs, but that quickly changed, and today film is all but obsolete. In addition, these digital sensors have the ability to record in wavelengths beyond what our eyes can see including near infrared, middle infrared, and thermal.

Having a steady source of information generated from remotely sensed imagery about our planet is invaluable. However, could this information be improved? The answer is yes; through geographic information systems (GIS). A GIS allows the user to put together various sources of information by layering the data layers on top of each other to tease out even more information and help in the decision-making process. For example, a university planner may want to determine the best place to build a new campus parking lot. They might download a general land cover/vegetation map (National Land Cover Data from the USGS) that was created from Landsat imagery. Then they might obtain a slope and aspect data layer (also from the USGS generated from remotely sensed imagery). A map of soil types (especially hydric or wetland soils) could be gotten from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (this information was also generated from remote sensing). Finally, the university probably already has a detailed campus map with building footprints and other infrastructure (utilities, pipelines, roads, etc.). An analyst could then use a GIS overlay all these various data sets on top of each other to determine the best candidate locations to build the new parking lot. The decision-makers could specify the criteria they want for the new parking lot. For example, they could say that they want the lot placed on relatively flat land, within 10 minutes walking distance of the central campus, near a central access road, not on a wetland, and where no forest land needed to be disturbed. The GIS could perform this analysis digitally and provide potential locations that meet these criteria. The decision-makers could, if they chose, revise their criteria and quickly get a different set of potential locations.

This figure demonstrates one of the powerful abilities of a GIS to overlay various data layers (many generated from remote sensing) to ask questions such as the optimal place to put in a new parking lot on the University of New Hampshire campus. Courtesy Russell G. Congalton
This figure demonstrates one of the powerful abilities of a GIS to overlay various data layers (many generated from remote sensing) to ask questions such as the optimal place to put in a new parking lot on the University of New Hampshire campus. Courtesy Russell G. Congalton

 

Clearly, GIS is a powerful tool that has become ubiquitous in our society. Farmers, business developers, politicians, law enforcement, natural resource managers, emergency management agencies, real estate agents, community planners and almost everyone else either uses a GIS or the information generated from one. However, it is important to not lose sight of the source of the vast majority of information input into the GIS. Imagery/remote sensing is the source of many of our GIS data layers. Therefore, a GIS analyst should be aware of the basics of remote sensing so that they not only have an appreciation of how the layers are created, but also so that some evaluation of data quality or accuracy is possible. There is an old adage that is appropriate here; garbage in means garbage out (GIGO). If the GIS user is either unaware of how the data they are using has been created or is using that data in an incorrect/inappropriate manner, then the decisions made with that data could be seriously flawed.

The synergy between imagery/remote sensing and GIS is obvious and undeniable. GIS is highly dependent on having timely and accurate data layers (most generated from remote sensing) to produce effective decisions. The GIS analyst is responsible for choosing the most accurate and appropriate data layers to conduct their analysis and solve their problem. The more informed they are about how remote sensing/imagery were used to create the data layers, the better the decisions made with that data.

This graphic at left shows an image acquired by an Unpiloted Aerial System (UAS) that is part of an ongoing research study to evaluate the health of different varieties of corn planted on the University of New Hampshire farms. The BMR (Brown Mid Rim) corn produces more biomass for feeding cows, but is more susceptible to disease. The initial results of the study demonstrated our ability to identify BMR corn vs. other varieties. The image at right Coutesy Russell G. Congalton
This graphic shows an image acquired by an Unpiloted Aerial System (UAS) that is part of an ongoing research study to evaluate the health of different varieties of corn planted on the University of New Hampshire farms. The BMR (Brown Mid Rim) corn produces more biomass for feeding cows, but is more susceptible to disease. The initial results of the study demonstrated our ability to identify BMR corn vs. other varieties. Coutesy Russell G. Congalton

 

Analog remote sensing (aerial photography) since the 1950s, digital imagery and analysis since the 1970s, and GIS since the mid 1980s have developed and improved over time. Since the turn of the last century, these tools have exploded in their usefulness and capabilities.

The number of countries and private companies collecting and distributing remotely sensed imagery has grown exponentially with increased spatial, spectral, temporal, and radiometric resolution such that imagery almost anywhere on our planet is readily available at almost any time. Computers have improved and software has been developed for not only processing the remotely sensed imagery, but also for conducting more effective and efficient geospatial analysis. The future looks very bright with the recent progress in artificial intelligence and deep learning that will enable us to generate better information from the remotely sensed imagery which can then be used in GIS to more efficiently and effectively investigate and understand our modern-day problems and issues. Therefore, it is time for the enlightened geospatial analyst to not only be knowledgeable about geographic information systems and science, but to know at least the basics of imagery and the science of remote sensing.

There are many ways for you to accept this challenge and learn the basics or more about remote sensing. It is fine to start slowly and find some introductory tutorials on such sources as youtube.com, americaview.org, usgs.gov, esri.com, or just type “remote sensing” into your favorite search engine. Once you get going, there are also short courses, workshops, and other lectures that you can sign up to take and books that you can purchase that can teach you more. Finally, there are courses and even certificates and degrees offered at many colleges and universities around the world. The time is now to make use of the synergies between remote sensing and GIS and the geospatial analyst of the future will have skills and knowledge of both!

Russell G. Congalton is associate chair and professor of Remote Sensing and GIS in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire. He has over 40 years of teaching and research experience, first at the University of California, Berkeley and now at UNH. He teaches numerous courses in geospatial analysis and has authored or coauthored more than 120 peer-reviewed papers, more than 120 conference proceedings, and fifteen book chapters. He is the co-editor of Quantifying Spatial Uncertainty in Natural Resources: Theory and Applications for GIS and Remote Sensing, and co-author of five books, including Assessing the Accuracy of Remotely Sensed Data: Principles and Practices (1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions, CRC Press); and Imagery and GIS: Best Practices for Extracting Information from Imagery (Esri 2017). Among his many honors, he was elected a Fellow in 2007 and an Honorary Member/Lifetime Achievement in 2016 of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). He was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by AmericaView in 2022 and the Pecora Award by the USGS and NASA in 2023.

Featured Articles is a special section of the AAG Newsletter where AAG sponsors highlight recent programs and activities of significance to geographers and members of the AAG. To sponsor the AAG and submit an article, please contact [email protected].

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