Newsletter – August 2022
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Confronting the Extremes of Climate Change
By Marilyn Raphael
It is extremely hot. Again. Everywhere. To date, the 2022 northern summer has been defined by extremely high temperatures and extreme dryness… As scientists, geographers have been among those sounding the alarm that we are facing a disaster of potentially infinite proportions, one that will affect all of us, yet even we seem unable/helpless to act. How will we —all of us—, including those of us who have tried to act — rationalize the general, present inaction in 10 to 20 years from now when we are living with consequences?
Make Your Voice Heard for Climate Action
This week, the Senate narrowly passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S.’s most important climate and consumer legislation yet. All told, the climate Investments in the bill are projected to reduce pollution by 40% from 2005 levels, by 2030.
Now it’s up to the House to pass its own version—and the bill is expected to move swiftly. If you live in the United States, please make your voice heard on climate action this week. Visit our advocacy page and use the template we have developed to write to your legislators in support of the Inflation Reduction Act.
ANNUAL MEETING
Registration open for the 2023 AAG Annual Meeting
Join us for a meeting the will be a mile high and thousands of miles wide. The hybrid AAG 2023 will take place virtually and in person in Denver March 23-27. Two ways to experience the meeting will be available to attendees, in-person or virtual. The call for papers and registration is also open!
Support our Students and Make a Gift to the Student Travel Fund
Registration has opened for the 2023 Annual Meeting, and that means that many students who want to attend are hesitating, wondering if they can afford to attend a premier research conference, With rising inflation, air fare, gas, hotel accommodations, and food, too many students might pass up their opportunity. You can help. Make your gift to the AAG Student Travel Fund today.
If you have already made a gift, we are grateful! Your generosity has created a fund of just over $12,000, which can support 24 students with a $500 travel grant. But we know that demand will be much greater.
One of the most vital ways to invest in the future of the discipline.is to help geography students be active participants in the AAG’s annual meeting. Many students present for the very first time at AAG, and they also make lasting contacts and connect with networks of other researchers in their area. This year, students have the first chance in three years to build their networks in person, find potential employers, and present their research to an in-person audience.
Your gift at any level will be a tremendous boost to Students who are just starting their careers.
Thank you again to all who have already made a gift. We invite many more of you to make a contribution. You might even consider making a monthly donation for greater impact. Today’s the best day to invest in tomorrow’s geographers. Donate here.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Save the Dates for AAG Regional Division Fall Meetings
This fall will be a great time to reconnect with colleagues near you at one of AAG’s nine regional divisions’ annual meetings. Meeting dates and locations are:
- October 6-8, 2022 – Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG), Bellingham, WA
- October 14-15, 2022 – Great Plains/Rocky Mountain (GPRM), Denver, CO
- October 20-21, 2022 – Mid-Atlantic Division (MAD), Crownsville, MD and West Lakes (WLDAAG), Edwardsville, IL
- October 27-28, 2022 – East Lakes (ELDAAG), Muskegon, MI and Southwest (SWAAG), Fayetteville, AR
- October 28-29, 2022 – Middle States (MSAAG), virtual
- November 4-6, New England – St. Lawrence Valley (NESTVAL), Salem, MA
- November 20-22, 2021 – Southeast Division (SEDAAG), Atlanta, GA
AAG Honors, Awards and Service: Recognize, Affirm, Serve—and Shine
Take this opportunity to nominate a colleague—or yourself—for an AAG Award, Honor, committee position, or Council, Most deadlines are September 15, so please respond soon.
AAG Honors are the highest awards offered by the American Association of Geographers, and AAG Fellows recognize geographers who have made significant contributions to advancing geography. Please note that both of these programs are now operating under recently revised guidelines. Individual AAG members, specialty groups, affinity groups, departments, and other interested parties are encouraged to nominate outstanding colleagues by September 15.
Deadlines for several other AAG Grants and Awards are also approaching:
Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Sept. 30
2023 Committee and Council Vacancies
Openings are available to serve on either the AAG Honors Committee or the AAG Nominating Committee. Nominations and self-nominations of members who wish to serve on these committees should email Candida Mannozzi.
The AAG Nominating Committee for the 2023 AAG Election seeks nominations for Vice President (one to be elected) for National Councilor (two vacancies), and for International Councilor (one vacancy) for the 2023 election. Those elected will take office on July 1, 2023. Nominations are due no later than September 15, 2022. The AAG encourages nominations of a broad range of colleagues who reflect different disciplinary specialties, regional locations, gender, race, ethnicity, diverse ability, stage in career, and institutional diversity (e.g., candidates at non-PhD-granting or 2-year degree-granting institutions, and/or candidates who serve in Historically Black, Hispanic Serving, and tribal colleges).
Nominations for Vice President should be directed to Sarah Blue, Nominating Committee Chair. Nominations for National Councilor should be directed to Danielle M. Purifoy, Nominating Committee Member. Nominations for International Councilor should be directed to Sara Smith, Nominating Committee Member.
PUBLICATIONS
NEW Summer Issue of the AAG Review of Books Published
The latest issue of the AAG Review of Books is now available (Volume 10, Issue 3) with eleven book reviews and one book review essay on recent books related to geography, feminism, tourism, and more. The issue also holds one book review forum for the 2021 J.B. Jackson Prize recipient: Profiting from the Peak: Landscape and Liberty in Colorado Springs by David Havlick, Steven M. Radil, Yolonda Youngs, Joni M. Palmer, Kevin McHugh, and John Harner.
Check out the latest from the other AAG journals
Member News
August Member Updates
Rajiv Thakur from Missouri State University is one of 175 other scientists and engineers who have received American Association for Advancement of Science – Science and Technology Policy Fellowship for 2022-23. Thakur will be on sabbatical working with USAID – United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security as ‘International Research Advisor (Production Systems)’.
Past AAG President Derek Alderman was selected to serve on the Department of Interior’s Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names along with 16 others, including other geographers. Rectifying outdated and offensive place names is a small but important step in addressing the troubled legacy of public lands. Read more.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
SciComm Identities Project Fellowship – New Deadline
The SciComm Identities Project Fellowship is a one-year professional development opportunity for pre-tenure faculty at U.S. institutions who identify as underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities. SCIP Fellows will gain science communication expertise and practice and build their professional networks in ways that may support new collaborations and research insights. New deadline to apply is September 12, 2022.
2022 American Institute of Indian Studies Fellowships
The American Institute of Indian Studies announces its 2022 fellowship competition, and invites applications from scholars who wish to conduct their research in India. Junior fellowships are awarded to Ph.D. candidates to conduct research for their dissertations in India for up to eleven months. Senior fellowships are awarded to scholars who hold a Ph.D. degree for up to nine months of research in India. The application deadline is November 15, 2022. Applications can be downloaded from the website. Inquiries should be directed to 773-702-8638 or aiis@uchicago.edu.
In Memoriam
The AAG is saddened to hear of the passing of Edward Fernald this past month.
EVENTS CALENDAR
- August 11, 2022, 11:00 AM – 1:15 PM ET – Let CAR (Community, Accountability, and Relevance) Drive your Instruction webinar
- August 19, 2022, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET – Planning the Arc of a Research Career webinar
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