Call for Papers: AAG 2007

Call for Papers: Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 17-21, 2007.

The Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group would like to make a general call for papers for the Annual AAG Meeting in San Francisco CA, April 17th ? 21st. We are soliciting calls for sessions, organized sessions, and individual papers that fit within our mission to advance the theoretical and applied interests of environmental perception and behavioral geography within the discipline of geography. We are open to both qualitative and quantitative research, taking a disaggregate approach to the study of human activity, culture, and society, on issues of human behavior, perception, attitudes, beliefs, memory, language, intentions, reasoning and problem-solving involving space and place. We are also very interested in co-sponsoring sessions with other specialty groups that would integrate with our focus.

The final deadline for sessions and papers to be submitted is October 26th, so please send your titles, abstracts, organized sessions, or questions and other inquiries to Dave Lemberg at lemberg@wmich.edu by October 20th at the latest (earlier would help). Students, please apply for the EPBG 2007 Saarinen Paper Competition and 2007 Travel Grants.

2007 Student Travel Grants

The Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group offers a maximum of five Travel Grants of $130 to qualified student applicants. Preference for the awarding of a Travel Grant will be: 1) any student who competes in the Saarinen Paper competition; 2) any student presenting a paper in either environmental perception or behavioral geography at the annual meeting who is not competing in the Saarinen Paper competition. Awardees must be in attendance at the Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group business meeting at the 2007 AAG meeting.

To apply for a Travel Grant, download an application form here.

Send completed application form and manuscript to:

Dan Montello, Geography Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4060

For questions contact Dan Montello via telephone (805 893-8536) or e-mail (montello@geog.ucsb.edu)

2007 Saarinen Student Paper Announcement

The Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group announces the 2007 Saarinen Student Paper Competition. The EP&BGSG will award a $200 prize for the best student paper, illustrated paper, or poster (graduate or undergraduate) presented in either environmental perception or behavioral geography at the 2007 AAG meeting in San Francisco.

Entrants in the Saarinen Student Paper Competition must also submit a maximum 25-page version of their work. Papers must be based upon original research done as an undergraduate or graduate student and must be written entirely by the applicant. Awardees must be in attendance at the Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group business meeting at the 2007 AAG meeting.

All submissions will be judged on written clarity, methodological soundness, contribution to the field of EP&BG, and their presentation at the meeting. The Academic Directors of the EP&BGSG will judge all entries. The deadline for receiving your Saarinen Competition application form and your paper submission is Friday, February 23, 2007.

To apply for the Saarinen Student Paper Competition, fill out an application form available here.

Send completed application form and manuscript to:

Dan Montello, Geography Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4060

For questions contact Dan Montello via telephone (805 893-8536) or e-mail (montello@geog.ucsb.edu)

Saarinen Student Paper Award Winner Announced

The Environmental Perception & Behavioral Geography Specialty Group (EPBG SG) is pleased to announce that Martin Swobodzinski, San Diego State University Ph.D. Candidate, is the 2006 recipient of the Saarinen Student Paper Award ($200). His paper was entitled “Route Calculation Constraints for an Indoor Navigation Service for the Blind.” Swobodzinski and Tatyana Schoenberg, SUNY at Buffalo Ph.D. Candidate, were the recipients of the EPBG SG travel grants ($130 each). Congratulations to Martin and Tatyana!

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION AND PAPERS

Workshop on the Cognitive Approach to Modeling Environments (CAME) http://www.sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de/CAME
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/gia/came

to be held with
4th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2006) September 20-23, 2006 Muenster, Germany http://www.giscience.org


Workshop date: September 20, 2006


Workshop topics and aim:
Spatial characteristics of an environment determine human behavior in and conceptualization of this environment. The workshop addresses how this interaction between environment and human behavior can be adequately represented and captured in (computational) models of space.

The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers working on the incorporation of environmental characteristics into models of space, thereby building on findings from cognitive psychology and related fields. It will stimulate and foster discussion on the topic and identify future research questions.

Topics include:
A. Environmental characteristics:
* What are the environmental characteristics we need to address?
* How can we classify them (taxonomies, ontologies)?
* Do the "traditional" GIS models (vector, raster, networks) suffice
to capture the essence of those characteristics? Or should we
develop specific models from scratch?

B. Modeling environmental characteristics:
* How do we model specific types of environments (indoor/outdoor,
vista/environmental/geographical, loosely/fully structured)?
* Can we identify common elements and structures in these models?
* How can we identify salient environmental characteristics that
influence human behavior (structural/functional complexity,
landmarks, symmetries)?

C. Applications in communication and design:
* How can we identify and emphasize the information most relevant
for a particular environment?
* How can real-world applications, like LBS, benefit?
* How can we exploit our theoretical models when designing new
environments like a building or a neighborhood?


Important dates:
May, 15: deadline for paper submissions
July, 1: notification of acceptance
Sept., 20: workshop day at GIScience


Call for papers:
Please submit short papers in PDF format by e-mail to the workshop organizers. Length of papers should be no more than 4 pages or 2000 words.
Submitted papers will be reviewed by the program committee. Accepted papers will be chosen for presentation and publication as report of the Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition.


Further information can be found here:
http://www.sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de/CAME
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/gia/came

Organizers:
Kai-Florian Richter
Universitaet Bremen
richter@sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de

Urs Jacob Ruetschi
Universitaet Zuerich
uruetsch@geo.unizh.ch

Two Tenure Track Positions

Hattiesburg Mississippi 39406. The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Geography and Geology invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track assistant professors commencing August 2006.

Position 1. The department seeks a geographer with interests in Human-Environmental Geography. A broad range of subspecialties is welcome; however, our goal is to build strength in coastal studies. The appointment will work closely with our Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss. The undergraduate degree program at Gulf Park is one of the fastest growing majors on that campus. We seek a well-qualified and ambitious scholar who can continue to develop the program, as well as work closely with the geography faculty on the Hattiesburg campus.

Position 2. The department seeks a GIScience specialist with strengths in Quantitative Methods. The candidate will be expected to support the department’s growing strength in coastal science and/or urban economic geography. The candidate will be situated on the Hattiesburg campus.

Minimum qualifications for both positions are a doctorate in geography at the time of appointment and evidence of ability to teach effectively and to conduct quality research in the area of their specialization.

The Geography Program offers a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. in geography. The Department of Geography and Geology is a member of the School of Ocean and Earth Science, which includes: Marine Science, Coastal Science, the Gulf Coast Geospatial Center, Geography and Geology. The Geography faculty have a strong focus upon international research/field programs in Jamaica, Cuba, France, Great Britain, Andean South America and Central America, as well as the U.S. South. Please see our Web site for more details on this position and our department at http://www.usm.edu/geo/

Applications should include a personal statement of background and experience relevant to the position, especially research and teaching experience, a dated curriculum vitae, and names and addresses (including e-mail) of three referees. The review of applications will commence on February 24, 2006, and continue until a candidate is appointed. All materials should be sent to Dr. Clifton Dixon, Chair, Department of Geography and Geology, Box 5051, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5051. E-mail: c.dixon@usm.edu, voice: 601.266.4729, Fax: 601.266.6219. The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer; diversity is highly valued. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Visit the Southern Miss Web site at http://www.usm.edu.

AA/EOE/ADAI

Our Future???

This post is coming to you due to the growing concern about the specialty group. As of mid-January, 2006, the specialty group consists of 169 student members and 102 non-student members (271 total). This is a great showing on paper; however, participation in the specialty group is very low. Over the past several years less than 5% of the membership has attended the business meeting at the national meeting. We have had very few students enter the paper competition or apply for the travel grants. Specialty group-sponsored sessions at the national meeting have also dwindled to only one or two in the recent past (2005 AAG – 0 sessions; 2006 AAG – 2 sessions). The lack of participation will certainly cause a problem when my term as chair ends (2006) and the current vice-chair, who would typically move into the chair position, steps down (2006). At present, there appears to be no one willing to step into these roles.

We, as a specialty group, need to decide if we should continue or fold. If continuation is the overwhelming favorite people need to step up to the plate and participate by organizing specialty group-sponsored sessions, encouraging students to submit their work for the paper competition and apply for the travel grants, and becoming officers.

So what does all of this mean? We need to generate some discussion of whether or not to continue the specialty group. In late February, we (the current board) will call for a vote so that the outcome will be known prior to the Chicago AAG meeting. If the membership votes to continue the specialty group but no one volunteers to step onto the board either before or during the business meeting (Thursday, March 9, 11:50am-12:50pm) we will send a recommendation to the AAG that this specialty group fold.

Lisa M. DeChano, PhD
President
Environmental Perception & Behavioral Geography Specialty Group

Job Opening

OUTREACH NOTICE
Social Scientist/Team Leader
GS- 13 -14

At the Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle Washington

The USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station intends to advertise a permanent position for a Research Social Scientist / Research Geographer. The scientist is social science team leader with the Rural-Urban Wildland Interactions (RUWI) Team of the Human and Natural Resource Interactions (HNRI) Program located in Seattle, Washington. The position reports to the Program Manager for the HNRI Program. The position will be a GS 13 or 14 depending on scholarly accomplishments. The salary range is $77,636 to $119,263.

The major responsibilities of this position are to develop and implement a social science research program in the Pacific Northwest that demonstrates scholarly effort and meets the needs of the Forest Service for applied social science in support of planning and management activities. The RUWI Team focuses on two key problem areas: 1) identify and evaluate alternative institutional structures and processes that support effective, responsive and efficient resource management and 2) expand our understanding of community and natural resource interactions at multiple scales. Potential research in support of these two areas varies in scope and complexity and involves a variety of social science disciplines. Among the contributions of recent or ongoing research are assessments of the adaptability of communities to social and economic change, analysis of the impacts of land management activities on social and economic conditions, description of the trends in and determinants of recreation and tourism activities, analysis of implications of population dynamics for forest and recreation management, and analysis of agency institutional capacity for using new knowledge in recreation management. There is an expectation that his/her personnel research focus will include recreation and recreation management with emphasis on public lands. Implementation of a successful program of work involves developing collaborative relations with University and other research institutions and coordination among federal land management, regulatory and research agencies, tribal governments, and state and local governments and agencies.

In addition to developing a personal program of scholarly work, this individual is expected to provide technical RD&A leadership to team of researchers. Administrative responsibilities include formal supervision of members of a research team, accountability for management of appropriated funds and cooperative relationships, and contributions to management of the research program. The team leader is responsible for designing a coordinated research effort that is responsive to the complex resource situation in the Pacific Northwest. Often the breadth and complexity of the issues require integrated approaches and may involve collaboration with scientists within the Program, in other Programs, at other Stations, with academics and practitioners.

The PNW Research Station is seeking candidates who can demonstrate a strong scholarly background as well as a familiarity with both resource issues in the Pacific Northwest and National Forest Management. Candidates must also have strong skills in planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing a program of work that includes scientists and technical specialists not necessarily under their direct supervision. Candidates must also have a demonstrated ability to work on complex and controversial issues.

Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, should complete the attached Outreach Notice Form by March 15, 2006. If interested, please contact Richard Haynes, Program Manager, Human and Natural Resource Interactions Program, at internet e-mail rhaynes@fs.fed.us; or write to USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Attention: Richard Haynes, Box 3890, Portland, Oregon 97208, or call (503) 808-2002. For more information about the position contact either Richard Haynes or Linda Kruger, Acting Team Leader (907-586-8811 extension 240 or internet email lkruger@fs.fed.us)

ABOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION:

The PNW Research Station is one of seven research units in the USDA Forest Service. The USDA Forest Service’s Research and Development program conducts the most extensive and productive program of integrated forestry research in the world. The mission of the PNW Research Station is to generate and communicate scientific knowledge that helps people understand and make informed choices about people, natural resources and the environment. The PNW Research Station has primary responsibility for Forest Service research in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, but also has active research in several other places in the United States and the world. The scientific information produced by the PNW Research Station has application on public, private, and tribal lands.

The PNW Research Station has an average annual budget of 50 million dollars, with about 530 employees located at 9 labs and 1 Wood Utilization Center in Alaska, Oregon and Washington. The Station headquarters is in Portland, Oregon. The Station has 10 active experimental forests, watersheds and ranges located mostly within national forests in the three states, plus 20 research natural areas. Much of the Station’s research is conducted on lands managed by its many partners, including federal, state, and private lands.

OUTREACH NOTICE FORM

Team Leader, Social Science Research
PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION
USDA FOREST SERVICE


If you are interested in this position and want to receive a copy of the Vacancy Announcement, please complete this form and send via e-mail to mahamilton@fs.fed.us. If you are not a current Forest Service employee or do not have access to e-mail please complete the form and mail to: Margaret Hamilton, PNW Research Station, and Box 3980, Portland, OR 97208. You may also FAX the form to the PNW Research Station at FAX #503-808-2033, attention Margaret Hamilton. Please respond no later than March 15, 2006. The position will be advertised on the OPM USAJobs website www.usajobs.opm.gov after the outreach is completed.


NAME:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

MAILING ADDRESS:




TELEPHONE NUMBER:

AGENCY EMPLOYED WITH:


ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT AND POSITION LOCATION:


CURRENT SERIES AND GRADE:


CURRENT POSITION TITLE:


TYPE OF CURRENT APPOINTMENT:
Permanent: Term: VRA: PWD:
Other:

AAG Grants and Awards Reminder

This is from the AAG and was originally sent to our Specialty Group President:

As you know, each year, the AAG offers numerous grants and awards to geographers. The list that follows serves to remind you and your colleagues about the opportunities available for recognition or grant support. Unless otherwise noted, all deadlines are December 31, 2005. Please consult full descriptions posted on the AAG website at www.aag.org/grantsawards/index.cfm.

Meredith F. Burrill Award

To stimulate and reward talented individuals and groups who have completed work of exceptional

merit and quality that lies at or near the intersection of basic research and practical applications or local, national, or international policy implications.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/burrill.htm

George and Viola Hoffman Award

To support student research toward a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation on a geographical subject in Eastern Europe.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/Hoffmanfund.html

Glenda Laws Award

To recognize outstanding contributions to geographic research on social issues.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/glendalawsaward.htm

Anne U. White Fund

To support field research conducted by a member of the AAG jointly with her or his spouse, regardless of any formal training in geography.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/Annewhitefund.html

AAG Research Grants for 2006

To support direct expenses of research or fieldwork that address questions of major import to the discipline (excluding master's or doctoral dissertation research).

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/Generalresearch.html

AAG Dissertation Research Grants for 2006

To support direct expenses of master's or doctoral dissertation research to eligible individuals.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/Dissertationresearch.html

AAG International Geographic Information Fund

To support full-time students who are currently registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program within the United States, and who are working in any area of spatial analysis or geographic information science or systems, through Student Travel Grants, Graduate Research Awards, and Student Paper Awards.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/IGIF.cfm.

AAG Meridian Book Award for the Outstanding Scholarly Work in Geography 2005

To recognize geographer authors or co-authors who have published a book in calendar year 2005 that makes an unusually important contribution to advancing the science and art of geography.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/meridian_book_award.cfm

AAG Globe Book Award for Public Understanding of Geography 2005

To recognize geographer authors or co-authors who have published a book in calendar year 2005 that conveys most powerfully the nature and importance of geography to the nonacademic world.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/globe.cfm

AAG John Brinckerhoff Jackson Prize for 2005

To encourage and reward American geographers who write books about the United States that convey the insights of professional geography in language that is interesting and attractive to a lay audience.

www.aag.org/Grantsawards/Jacksonprize.html

Anderson Medal

To recognize distinguished contributions to the profession of geography in one or more areas of industry, government, literature, education, research, service to the profession, or public service.

NOTE: Deadline is December 1, 2005.

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jjd1571/ or http://www.aag.org/Grantsawards/anderson_medal.cfm

Dr. Patricia Solis
Director of Research and Outreach
Association of American Geographers
1710 Sixteenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20009-3198
Telephone 202-234-1450 ext. 32
Direct Line 202-558-7491
Fax 202-234-2744
psolis@aag.org

CLEANER Social Science Committee

Dear EPBG Specialty Group Members,

The National Science Foundation is currently planning the establishment of large-scale environmental observatory network infrastructure. Many of you may be familiar with NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network; http://www.neoninc.org/), CUAHSI (Consortium of Universities for Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Incorporated; http://www.cuahsi.org/), and CLEANER (Collaborative Large-Scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research; http://cleaner.ncsa.uiuc.edu/).

CLEANER is the observatory network with the clearest connections to human environments, especially in urban/suburban areas. The CLEANER Program Office has established a Social Science Committee tasked with integrating social science perspectives and needs into observatory network planning.

The committee members cannot possibly represent all of the viewpoints and perspectives in social science. Your answers to the following questions will provide valuable insight to the planning process and ultimately improve the chances for successful integration of social science into these observatory networks. Please also keep in mind that while we are focusing on social science for these questions, but any thoughts you might have on these or other questions are welcome.

1. Thinking of your colleagues in the engineering disciplines, when
you hear about their research, what additional pieces of data do you wish they would collect to make their results more relevant to you and your research?
2. Paying for communal data infrastructure is a challenge in current
funding structures. Of the community data clearinghouses such as the ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research; www.icpsr.umich.edu), which are your favorites, and why?
3. If you were developing a communal data collection network for your
particular research field, what would you spend money on and why?
Remember, all costs must be for capital investments. Funding student salaries and other consumable research costs is not possible using this pot of money.

Please send any thoughts/comments/questions you might have to Dan Bain (djbain@usgs.gov). Thanks in advance for you time and attention.

Finally, I apologize for cross-posting. However, I am casting a wide net and most of us belong to several specialty groups. Therefore, there will be some redundancy. In addition, if you do reply to your respective list-serv, please copy me, as I may not be a regular subscriber.

Thanks much,
Dan Bain

Daniel J. Bain
Water Resources Division
US Geological Survey
MS 420, 345 Middlefield Rd
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone 650 329 4460
Fax 650 329 4538

Chair Position: Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University seeks a Chair of its Department of Geography, beginning July 1, 2006 pending budgetary approval. Candidates should qualify for appointment at senior academic rank. A Ph.D. is required, preferably in Geography. Candidates are expected to manifest teaching and research excellence, including a record of publication recognized nationally-internationally as well as a record of managing significant externally-funded research. Candidates should have a research program that complements departmental strengths. The successful candidate is expected to provide visionary, entrepreneurial leadership, oversee development of faculty and research programs, participate in graduate and undergraduate teaching/learning, and maintain a productive research program.

The Department of Geography has 13 full-time faculty, 5 part-time faculty, and 15 graduate assistantships. It offers Bachelors and Masters degree programs concentrating in Geography, Environmental & Resource Management, Geographic Information Science, Tourism, Community Development & Planning, and Teaching of Geography, with approximately 35 master’s students and 140 majors. Departmental information is available at www.wmich.edu/geography. The Department is housed in recently renovated facilities with seven extensively computerized laboratories equipped with 100 workstations for instruction and research.

Western Michigan University is a diverse student-centered research institution with 26,000 students, is listed among the nation’s top 100 universities (U.S. News & World Report), has excellent library holdings, and is recognized for its excellent computing environment. Kalamazoo forms the center of a medium-sized cosmopolitan metropolitan region of about 250,000 located midway between Detroit and Chicago, 40 miles from Lake Michigan.

Western Michigan University, a Carnegie Classification Research Extensive Institution is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Please submit a letter of application, a statement of research and teaching philosophy, a statement regarding vision for the department and leadership style, vita, graduate transcripts, and names and letters of recommendation from at least three references to: Dr. David Lemberg, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geography, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5424. Email: lemberg@wmich.edu. Phone: (269) 387-3408. Review of applications will begin December 5, 2005, and continue until the position is filled.

Job Opening

University of Florida
Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research

The Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research (CWSGR) at the University of Florida is pleased to announce its search for a full-time tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant professor beginning August 2006. PhD required at time of appointment, in women’s studies or related field, with specialization in transnational feminist and gender studies. Candidates will be expected to complement and build upon expertise of the eight faculty members who are now full-time or joint-appointed in CWSGR. They should be prepared to help strengthen links with our international programs, and with transnational and global studies in particular. Scholarly strength preferred in Asian or African studies with specialization in gender, race, sexuality, comparative and/or diasporic studies. Over the next few years, we anticipate developing such areas as feminist approaches to politics and social justice; science and environmental studies; and media and cultural studies. Candidates should be broadly interdisciplinary and have active programs of research and publication under way. The person hired will teach core undergraduate and graduate courses; teaching experience in women’s studies is desirable.

CWSGR has long functioned as an autonomous program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and it will soon occupy its own historic building on the UF campus. The Center offers the BA and MA in Women’s Studies and hopes to establish a PhD program in the next several years.

The University of Florida offers excellent support for research and scholarly development and enjoys a strong and diverse body of students and faculty. Gainesville is a culturally rich university community in north-central Florida.

Please send letter of application, email address, CV, and names and contact information (including email) of three persons willing to write references to Florence Babb, Chair, Search Committee, Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, 3324 Turlington Hall, PO Box 117352, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Applications should be received by November 15, 2005 and should reference job number 00021741.

For more information, see http://web.wst.ufl.edu

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.

Call for Papers 2

Organizers: Samuel Randalls (University of Birmingham), Jeffrey C. Brunskill (Middlebury College), Akiko Yamane (Monash University)

Session Title: Weather and Society: Changing Weather Knowledges

Annual Conference of the Association of American Geographers 2006 - March 7th-11th, Chicago, IL.

Description:

One critical aspect in understanding weather and society is to appreciate the different types and changing nature of weather knowledge. Over the last century modern forecasting, theory and analysis has created a body of weather knowledge that is, in many ways, distinct from what might be termed everyday, commonsense weather knowledge. This relationship may be characterized in many ways – expert naïve, scientific/folk, technology based/experience based, and the like. There are a variety of issues that come to light regarding the interaction between these qualitative knowledge domains, particularly in the context of weather communication, visualization, prediction, risk assessment (climate change / forecasting), and scientific/lay uses of weather information. The relevance of such domains is evident in the recent impact, and perceived impact, of Hurricane Katrina in the Southeastern United States.

Building upon last year’s session, we invite critical research papers that consider the broad relationship between modern meteorological/climatological theory and social, cultural and conceptual dimensions of weather knowledge. This includes the social, political and economic aspects surrounding the distinction (of e.g. expert/lay) and the ways in which they create cultures, politics and economics of the weather. The session aims to be explicitly interdisciplinary, combining both scientific and social scientific knowledges. Papers may include, but not be limited to:

- Large-scale versus small-scale/locally derived weather knowledge
- Direct experience versus technologically derived knowledge and concepts of the weather
- Forms of communication (visual, terminological, media)
- Forecasts and assessments of climate change (as they relate to the connection between climatology and weather/climate knowledge)
- Perceptions of Risk and Vulnerability
- Risk and extreme weather
- Cultures, economics and politics of the weather
- Historical study – evolution of modern theory and relations to everyday and ‘folk’ theories?
- Future Applications – decision making, visualizations, representations

Please send copies of your abstract (no more than 250 words) to either Samuel Randalls (scr857@bham.ac.uk), Jeff Brunskill (jbrunski@middlebury.edu) or Akiko Yamane (Akiko.Yamane@arts.monash.edu.au) by the 5th of October. We welcome any informal contact or ideas for papers prior to this date. An illustrated paper session can be arranged if there is sufficient interest. Details of paper time allocations, poster information etc. can be found at the AAG Homepage. The conference will take place from March 7th to 11th 2006, details on location and registration costs etc. can also be found on the AAG's site.

Session Organizer Contacts:

Samuel Randalls – scr857@bham.ac.uk
Jeff Brunskill – jbrunski@middlebury.edu
Akiko Yamane – Akiko.Yamane@arts.monash.edu.au

Call for Papers

Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers Chicago, Illinois USA March 7th to 11th, 2006

Session: Regional Transportation Sustainability: Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Sponsor: Transportation Geography Specialty Group

Deadline: October 1st, 2005

The over reliance on fossil fuels has an impact on the quality of urban life as well as on regional competitiveness. Air pollution threatens the public health, while traffic congestion contributes to greater transportation cost differentials. To offset the negative externalities of pollution and congestion, academics, practitioners, stakeholders and policymakers with an interest in transportation have begun to realize that sustainability has important environmental and economic ramifications. The need to provide access to more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation includes the promotion of public transit, alternative fuel vehicles, bicycling, walking as well as telecommuting. Transportation alternatives offer not only the prospect of cleaner air and accessibility; they also address the negative consequences of congestion and pollution on the competitiveness of the regional economy by reducing the burden on the capacity of transportation networks. This session seek s to discuss alternative modes of transportation and to address the challenges to their implementation. Social scientists with an applied perspective and transportation practitioners are invited to submit papers as are those whose work is more policy driven.

After registering for the conference at http://www.aag.org/annualmeetings/ and submitting your abstract for a paper session, forward a copy of the abstract and your PIN to:

Ed Zolnik, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030 USA
Tel: (703)993-1144
Fax: (703)993-1216
E-mail: ezolnik@gmu.edu

Student Paper Competition & Travel Grants

Saarinen Student Paper Competition

Details on the 2009 Saarinen Paper Competition will be posted shortly. You must be at the 2009 AAG Meeting in Las Vegas to collect.

Mission Statement

Welcome to the Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group Homepage. Our mission is to advance the theoretical and applied interests of environmental perception and behavioral geography within the discipline of geography, developing links to related disciplines through communication and organization. Environmental perception and behavior geography (EPBG) is a broad subarea within human geography that takes a disaggregate approach to the study of human activity, culture, and society. It is concerned with a diverse set of issues about human behavior, perception, attitudes, beliefs, memory, language, intentions, reasoning and problem-solving involving space and place. EPBG research is motivated by two premises, that understanding these issues will help improve traditional models in human geography, and that these issues constitute geographic problems in their own right. Furthermore, to an EPBG researcher, people are not interchangeable parts for study but may differ as a function of their culture, socioeconomic status, age, gender, education, travel experiences, differing abilities, and more. EPBG researchers employ a wide array of research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative, and have interdisciplinary contact with psychology, anthropology, history, phenomenology, micro-economics, computer science, literature, and other disciplines.

2005 Minutes

Minutes of the Annual Business Meeting
April 8, 2005

Members in Attendance: 7

Presiding: Lisa DeChano, President

Agenda/Comments:

1) Dr. Lisa DeChano, Specialty Group President welcomed the members in attendance.

2) It was agreed that the minutes from the 2004 business meeting would be approved by email.

3) The following issues were discussed:

a. The Specialty Group sponsored no sessions at the 2005 AAG Annual meeting. It was universally agreed that this needed to be rectified for 2006.
b. President DeChano noted that the issue of diversity was discussed at the Chair’s meeting.
c. Vice-President David Stea brought to the Group’s attention two fellowships being offered by Mexico’s National Institute of Geography.
d. President DeChano passed along the desire of the AAG leadership to encourage posters and illustrated papers to reduce the number of concurrent sessions.
e. President DeChano noted the improvements in features available through the AAG website.
f. The Group discussed the timing of business meetings and decided that a lunchtime meeting might increase attendance.

4) Jon Malinowski, the Secretary/Treasurer, reported that the Group had $1691.39 at the time of the meeting.

5) Lynette Johnson was named the Student Paper Winner. She was also awarded a Travel Grant. The group voted to announce the paper competition and the travel grants separately to encourage entries. The group agreed that preference for the awarding of travel grants would be given to students entering the paper competition or presenting at the AAG national meeting.

6) David Stea stated his intention to leave his position at the completion of the 2006 business meeting.

7) A panel session at the 2006 Annual Meeting focusing on the direction of subdiscipline was proposed and generally received favorable responses. A special session for Reginald Golledge was also discussed.

8) Jon Malinowski proposed, and the Group approved, the purchasing of a separate website and domain name for the Specialty Group.

9) President DeChano closed the meeting.

Dr Jon Malinowski
Secretary/Treasurer

2004 Minutes

Minutes of the Business Meeting of the Environmental Perception and Behavioral Geography Specialty Group at the AAG Meetings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 15, 2004.

1. Meeting brought to order and welcome to all by current SG Chair Scott Bell. Approximately 9 people were in attendance.

2. Motion made/seconded to approve the minutes of the EP&BGSG business meeting in New Orleans. Motion carried unanimously.

3. Jon Malinowski, Academic Director, presented Lianne Fisman the 2004 Saarinen Student Paper Prize for her entry, “The Effects of Local Learning on Environmental Awareness in Children: An Empirical Investigation.” Ms. Fisman is doing graduate work at MIT in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She wins $200 for outstanding student paper plus a $125 student travel grant to help defray costs of attending the Philadelphia meetings. In addition, two other Travel Grants of $125 each were awarded to Brian King (Dept of Geography, University of Colorado) and Maurizio Antoninetti (Dept of Geography, San Diego State University).

4. S. Bell reported to the members on the annual AAG SG Chairs (Lisa DeChano attended in his place and briefed him).
• As an SG, we are entitled to have our Saarinen Paper Prize winner recognized at the annual AAG Awards Banquet. It was unanimously recommended by those in attendance that we should immediately allot the $40 banquet fee to Lianne Fisman, and a check was cut on the spot by Treasurer Randy Bertolas and given to Lianne for that purpose. It was also recommended that the EP&BGSG Chair should also attend the Awards Banquet each year as well, although most of those in attendance at the Business Meeting felt that the SG Chair should pay their own way.
• The AAG administration has voiced some concerns about the viability of certain (unnamed) Specialty Groups. It was pointed out by those in attendance at the Business Meeting that the EP&BGSG has numerous sponsored sessions, an annual award competition, and an active membership.
• Some SGs are concerned about not having their sponsored sessions approved. This is not a factor with the EP&BGSG as we apparently never sponsor more than a reasonable number of sessions. In Philadelphia, our SG had four (4) sponsored sessions approved for the convention.

5. Elections. With the change in Chair/Vice-chair terms now extended to two years each (decided at the 2001 New York EP&BGSG business meeting), both positions came open this year. Lisa DeChano moves from Vice-Chair to Chair. Scott Bell nominated David Stea to be Vice-Chair, and David was elected by acclamation. Lianne Fisman won an onsite ballot to become Student Director. Scott Freundschuh agreed to serve one year as an Academic Director. David Lemberg ran unopposed for a two-year term as our other Academic Director. Jon Malinowski agreed to take over as SG Secretary/Treasurer/Newsletter Editor from Randy Bertolas who retired from that position after ten years.

Next year, nominations will be needed for a two-year Academic Director’s position, as well as a new Student Director. Members were urged to consider being more active within the SG by standing for election and serving as an officer. The 2004-05 slate of officers who will serve in the EP&BGSG is listed below. In the next year, please feel free to nominate yourself or anyone you believe qualified for the positions listed above that will come up for election.

Past Chair Scott Bell, University of Saskatchewan
Chair Lisa DeChano, Western Michigan University
Vice-Chair David Stea, Texas State University
Secretary/Treasurer Jon Malinowski, United States Military Academy
Academic Director David Lemberg, Western Michigan University
Academic Director Scott Freundschuh, Univ of Minnesota-Duluth
Student Director Lianne Fisman, MIT

6. Randy Bertolas delivered the treasurer’s report:

2003-04 EP&BGSG Financial Report
Balance (March 07, 2003) $1359.77
Income from Dues (2003-04) + $ 476.75
$1836.52
Expenses (FY 2003-04)

• Newsletter (February 2004)
Printing -$ 47.60
Postage (mailed March 3, 2004) -$ 146.70

• Saarinen Award (March 2004)

SG Student Paper Prize -$ 200.00
SG Awards Banquet Ticket -$ 40.00
SG Student Travel Grants -$ 375.00 (3 @ $125 ea.)
Debit -$ 809.30

New Balance (March 25, 2004) $1027.22

7. New Business. It was decided that Saarinen Competition Travel Grants would go back down to $85/year to help facilitate the cost of student participation at the annual convention.

No further business. Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Randy Bertolas, EP&BGSG Secretary/Treasurer/Newsletter Editor