UNO Celebrates Geography Awareness Week
The University of New Orleans this week celebrates Geography Awareness Week, a national effort spearheaded by the National Geographic Society. National Geographic created Geography Awareness Week to raise awareness in American education and excite people about geography as both a discipline and as a part of everyday life.
Geography Week runs Nov. 18-22 at the University's Lakefront campus. The following activities at UNO are free and open to all:
Monday Nov 18
Remote Sensing of Hazards and Disasters
Did you know that the University has a Remote Sensing and GIS Declaration of Proficiency program, open to all students? It provides instruction in a number of areas involving cartography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Walk into the Computer Lab anytime during Geography Week's Monday session and see how satellite imagery and other remote sensing data can be used to document hazards and disasters. UNO Associate Professor of Geography Mahtab Lodhi, whose areas of interest include: remote sensing of water resources; remote sensing and GIS for land use / land cover monitoring, mapping and analysis; environmental monitoring and assessment using remote sensing and GIS, as well as geomorphology and sustainable development, will be on hand from 2 to 1:30 p.m. in Milneburg Hall Room 317 to show you around.
Tuesday Nov 19
Geocaching
Geocaching is an adventure in which participants use GPS application systems on their phones and other technological devices to navigate through a maze of clues to find hidden treasure. The international trend, which is often tied to the studies of history, biology or geography learning, has spawned more than two million geocaching adventures around the world. UNO anthropology and geography instructor Juana Ibanez has been stashing caches on campus. Meet her at 3 p.m, at the Katrina Fountain, located on the west side of Milneburg Hall, with your GPS system to start your search for the geocached boxes on campus.
Wednesday Nov 20
GIS Day
UNO urban and planning studies faculty and students, the Louisiana chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and ESRI, host the University's first formal GIS Day, dedicated to raising awareness of Geographic Information Systems technology. City of New Orleans Chief Information Officer Allen Square will address the group. The conference runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at Kirschman Hall Room 205.
Thursday Nov 21
Birding Made Easy.
UNO Associate Professor of Geography Peter Yaukey, a renowned birding expert, will lead students on a 45-minute bird walk along the Lake Pontchartrain waterfront adjacent to campus. A dozen or more bird species are anticipated. Since Hurricane Katrina, Yaukey, whose research previously focused on the effects of urbanization on bird communities, has focused his efforts on studying the impacts of the storm on bird species in the urban flood zone and the larger Gulf coast region. The group meets at the Katrina Fountain on campus for a firm 12:30 p.m. departure. Bring your binoculars and comfortable walking shoes.
Friday Nov 22
Mardi Gras, Made in China
UNO Geography Department chair James Lowry will host a film screening and discussion about the geography of consumption. The common point of interest? Mardi Gras beads, doubloons, and other fun. The talk runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kirschman Hall, Room 122.
