International Geography Scholar Harm de Blij Telecasts from JU Feb. 9
January 30, 2007
 |
| World-renowned geography scholar Dr. Harm de Blij. |
Jacksonville, Fla.—In conjunction with the Florida Society of Geographers (FSG), Jacksonville University, the host for this year’s FSG annual conference, will hold a lecture/telecast by author, professor and television personality Harm de Blij from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, in the Gooding Building, room 244, on the JU campus. The topic of de Blij’s telecast will be Africa and the geographic issues the continent faces.
Media and the public are invited to attend the event.
Dr. de Blij, a former geography professor at Miami University, Miami, Fla., spent seven years as the geography editor on ABC’s Good Morning America. In 1996 he joined NBC News as a geography analyst, appearing on MSNBC. He has published more than 30 books, and 100 articles. His most recent book, Why Geography Matters, argues that America’s persistent geographic illiteracy constitutes a national security risk.
The telecast, a lecture to be used in geography classrooms across the United States, is being sponsored by the National Geographic Society (NGS) and its subordinate state organization, the Florida Geographic Alliance (FGA). The purpose of these organizations is to promote geographic literacy and geographic education in grades K-12. The telecast is being funded by NGS in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jeff Martin, assistant professor of Geography at Jacksonville University, is president of the Florida Society of Geographers, a scholarship and professional organization for geographers from across the state. This year’s conference is Feb. 9 through 11 at the Wyndham Riverwalk Hotel.
Five former students from JU will present papers at the conference: Jason Dittmer, professor at Georgia Southern; Paul Hudson, professor at the University of Texas; Sara Beth Keough, graduate student at the University of Tennessee; Siana Lakhan, graduate student at Florida Atlantic; and John McEwen, currently employed at JU.
For more information about the telecast, please call Dr. Jeff Martin at 904-256-7225.
Back to News<<