Newsletter /geography/ en Rebecca Theobald, MA, PhD: Maps for Everyone /geography/2025/04/28/rebecca-theobald-ma-phd-maps-everyone <span>Rebecca Theobald, MA, PhD: Maps for Everyone</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T14:24:18-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 14:24">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:24</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/unnamed.jpg?h=2b3b0d5e&amp;itok=Clck6Rry" width="1200" height="800" alt="Rebecca Theobald"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/108"> Feature-Alumni </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-left image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/unnamed.jpg?itok=ts0I5lXG" width="375" height="375" alt="Rebecca Theobald"> </div> </div> <p>Whenever I prepare a presentation, I always try to provide a map so that participants can explore multiple spatial perspectives or situate themselves in relationship to the discussion.<span>&nbsp;</span>And of course, giant floor maps command the most attention!<span>&nbsp; </span>The comprehensive Department of Geography at CU 51“«Ć½ provided me with the ability to explore multiple spatial perspectives and to collaborate across a variety of disciplines.<span>&nbsp; </span>Learning that physical and human geography, as well as environment-society relations and geographic tools, were all honored within the department cemented my understanding of the value of a broad education for students at all levels.<span>&nbsp;</span>Following six years of commuting from Colorado Springs, I joined the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at UCCS where for ten years, I coordinated the Colorado Geographic Alliance, which supported professional development for elementary and secondary teachers across the state.<span>&nbsp; </span>I also served as a consultant to National Geographic’s Alliance for Geographic Education, expanding my understanding of policy and professional practices across the country.<span>&nbsp; </span>Drawing on these geography education connections, I edited the National Council for Geographic Education’s journal, ā€œThe Geography Teacherā€, for nine years.&nbsp;<span> </span>I could not have made it through that process without the willingness of graduate school colleagues and CU faculty to provide service to the discipline as authors and reviewers.</p> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/20180829_CO_GiantMap_FedEx.jpg?itok=wgmsvZSI" width="375" height="286" alt="Giant Map of Colorado"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Giant Map of Colorado</p> </span> </div> <p>My time in elementary and secondary classrooms reinforced the knowledge that geospatial technology tools continue to be unfamiliar to the majority of K-12 teachers.<span>&nbsp; </span>While geography is often not taught as a separate course in middle or high school, government or civics classes are usually required, so I developed GeoCivics (geocivics.uccs.edu) in 2017 to introduce online mapping tools as part of an instructional unit on electoral redistricting.<span>&nbsp;</span>I am working to keep these tools in place as we approach the 2030 Census.&nbsp;<span> </span>More recently, I have turned to the connection between civic action and environmental issues.<span>&nbsp; </span>Last November, I attended the United Nations Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan as an observer for the United States League of Women Voters (USLWV).<span>&nbsp; </span>You can read my impressions (and see some maps) at <a href="https://ges.uccs.edu/news-events" rel="nofollow"><span>https://ges.uccs.edu/news-events</span></a>, and view a presentation from several of the national League’s participants at <a href="https://youtu.be/HsPtH8TboiI" rel="nofollow"><span>https://youtu.be/HsPtH8TboiI</span></a>.<span>&nbsp; </span>When I share my experience, I always try to offer information about the location, which has been well received.<span>&nbsp; </span>I continue to appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with 51“«Ć½ geographers throughout the last several decades.<span>&nbsp; </span>As geographers, no matter the setting, we are all educators, so don’t hesitate to locate a map to illustrate your story.</p><p>Rebecca is currently an Associate Research Professor with the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.&nbsp;</p> <div class="align-center image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/20241114_COP_Small.jpg?itok=YqeKG-kF" width="375" height="391" alt="Rebecca Theobald COP29"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:24:18 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3856 at /geography Lionel D Lyles (PhD 1977) /geography/2025/04/28/lionel-d-lyles-phd-1977 <span>Lionel D Lyles (PhD 1977)</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T14:14:38-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 14:14">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:14</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/61JmOT7w3UL._SL1360_.jpg?h=16662822&amp;itok=UjeOjdx5" width="1200" height="800" alt="Highest Stage of the Development"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/108"> Feature-Alumni </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>My name is Dr. Lionel D. Lyles. I graduated in August 1977 with my Doctoral Degree in Urban-Historical Geography with an emphasis on the evolutionary development of contemporary urban problems. My major Professors at the time were, namely, Theodore Myers, Melvin Albaum, Yuk Lee, and Nicholas Hepburn.</span></p><p><span>These Professors prepared me for the social, economic, political, judicial, and environmental (e.g., climate change) problems that the American Working Class People are facing today. From the moment I graduated, and my training taught me that the cause of all the mentioned categories in which problems exist cannot be understood without first conducting an exhaustive, scientific analysis of the American&nbsp;Capitalist System.</span></p><p><span>Thus, for the past 40 years, I researched and objectively examined this system using the dialectical method, from pre-colonial times to 1980 and the present. The central theme is if an American is a wage earner, then he or she belongs to the American Working Class; if an American is a wealthy, non-producer, who owns multiple million and billions of dollars, he or she belongs to the American Ruling &nbsp;Class. My work shows American Society is the product of an historical class struggle between these mentioned classes.</span></p><p><span>At this time-2025-the American Working Class is only aware of itself via trade unionism. This level of political awareness can only win the working class people a disproportionate increase in wages relative to the millions of dollars of surplus value they lose during the process of production.</span></p><p><span>To help American Working Class People realize their historical mission of change, it took me five years to research and write the following books:</span></p> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/61JmOT7w3UL._SL1360_.jpg?itok=PBxkPpxo" width="375" height="562" alt="Highest Stage of the Development"> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/71j%2BVOnyb9L._SL1500_.jpg?itok=LykNAffE" width="375" height="569" alt="Highest Stage of the Development"> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/61k0fdbkAPL._SL1360_.jpg?itok=Nmd3kxrH" width="375" height="562" alt="Historical Development of Capitalism"> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/71IsQO6vn5L._SL1360_.jpg?itok=RLsay3Bn" width="375" height="562" alt="Historical Development of Capitalism"> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:14:38 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3855 at /geography Joseph Kerski contributed a chapter to the new book Thriving in An Academic Career /geography/2025/04/28/joseph-kerski-contributed-chapter-new-book-thriving-academic-career <span>Joseph Kerski contributed a chapter to the new book Thriving in An Academic Career</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T14:12:27-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 14:12">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:12</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/Picture1.png?h=9d30435b&amp;itok=SS6Eqpa1" width="1200" height="800" alt="Thriving in an Academic Career"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/108"> Feature-Alumni </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/Picture1.png?itok=YMvx2nbr" width="375" height="574" alt="Thriving in an Academic Career"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Thriving in an Academic Career: An International and Interdisciplinary Guide for Early Career Faculty</p> </span> </div> <p>Joseph Kerski wrote Chapter 13 - Integrating web mapping and geospatial technologies – in a new book that should be very helpful for all students considering a faculty career – and all faculty as well – Thriving In An Academic Career, recently <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Thriving-in-an-Academic-Career-An-International-and-Interdisciplinary-Guide-for-Early-Career-Faculty/Solem-Foote-OLear-Eaves-Lee/p/book/9781032379951?srsltid=AfmBOorDQLlipMFRrqZzKRR1OYSkRyn3zIIr9abitEHt2dfZJs2Z7ji9" rel="nofollow">published</a> by AAG and Routledge. Kerski’s chapter will help faculty teach with web mapping tools in and out of GIS courses, in physical geography, cultural geography, mathematics, business, economics, and in other disciplines.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:12:27 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3854 at /geography Don Friend (M.A. 1988) is continuing work on water in mountains begun as a graduate student at CU /geography/2025/04/28/don-friend-ma-1988-continuing-work-water-mountains-begun-graduate-student-cu <span>Don Friend (M.A. 1988) is continuing work on water in mountains begun as a graduate student at CU</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T14:01:49-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 14:01">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:01</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/Don%20being%20thanked%20for%20his%20presentation%20at%20the%20International%20Expert%20Dialogue%2C%20Kathmandu%2C%20Nepal%2C%202024..jpg?h=1d5255f2&amp;itok=socUf2S_" width="1200" height="800" alt="Don being thanked for his presentation at the International Expert Dialogue, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/108"> Feature-Alumni </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>With climate change causing a water supply crisis in high mountain Asia, a panel of experts, including Don, gathered in summer 2024 to discuss the biophysical and human impacts of this crisis in an ā€œInternational Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate.ā€ The event, was opened by the Prime Minister of Nepal, featured remarks from Ministers of Environment from across Asia and from United Nations dignitaries. During the opening scientific session, Don delivered the keynote presentation titled, ā€œFrom Vulnerability to Building Resilience: The Mountain Water Security Crisis Requires Expanding Water Supply and Water Demand Management.ā€</span></p><p><span>Don is now Distinguished Professor of Geography at Minnesota State University. Some highlights of his faculty career include serving as a US National Academy of Sciences Jefferson Science Fellow (2019-2020), and as a Fulbright Senior Scholar (2004-2005). He was the US Representative to the International Geographical Union Commission on Mountain Response to Global Change (2000-2016) and is past Chair and Founder of the Mountain Geography Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers. After completing his M.A. at CU, he earned the Ph.D. at Arizona State University.</span></p> <div class="imageMediaStyle original_image_size"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/original_image_size/public/2025-04/Don%20being%20thanked%20for%20his%20presentation%20at%20the%20International%20Expert%20Dialogue%2C%20Kathmandu%2C%20Nepal%2C%202024..jpg?itok=ZC1eSV7b" width="625" height="416" alt="Don being thanked for his presentation at the International Expert Dialogue, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p><span>Don being thanked for his presentation at the International Expert Dialogue, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024.</span></p> </span> <div class="imageMediaStyle original_image_size"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/original_image_size/public/2025-04/Don%20delivering%20remarks%20at%20the%20International%20Expert%20Dialogue%2C%20Kathmandu%2C%20Nepal%2C%202024..jpg?itok=ZIsc8Uc0" width="625" height="416" alt="Don delivering remarks at the International Expert Dialogue, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p><span>Don delivering remarks at the International Expert Dialogue, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024.</span></p> </span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:01:49 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3853 at /geography Local Institutions and Resource Conflict in Northern Kenya: Fieldwork Insights from PhD Candidate Sarah Posner /geography/2025/04/28/local-institutions-and-resource-conflict-northern-kenya-fieldwork-insights-phd-candidate <span>Local Institutions and Resource Conflict in Northern Kenya: Fieldwork Insights from PhD Candidate Sarah Posner</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:53:10-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:53">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:53</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/Posner%20and%20her%20Research%20Assistant%2C%20Noor%20Hussein%20Noor%2C%20piloting%20the%20questionnaire%20with%20a%20Samburu%20pastoralist%20at%20his%20manyatta_0.jpg?h=604e0bf3&amp;itok=L1GS112V" width="1200" height="800" alt="Posner and her Research Assistant, Noor Hussein Noor, piloting the questionnaire with a Samburu pastoralist at his manyatta (homestead) March 2025."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/110"> Feature-Grad </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/978" hreflang="en">Sarah Posner</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/Posner%20and%20her%20Research%20Assistant%2C%20Noor%20Hussein%20Noor%2C%20piloting%20the%20questionnaire%20with%20a%20Samburu%20pastoralist%20at%20his%20manyatta_0.jpg?itok=XknJe6R3" width="750" height="563" alt="Posner and her Research Assistant, Noor Hussein Noor, piloting the questionnaire with a Samburu pastoralist at his manyatta (homestead) March 2025."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Posner and her Research Assistant, Noor <span>Hussein Noor, piloting the questionnaire with a Samburu pastoralist at his </span><em><span>manyatta&nbsp;</span></em><span>(homestead) March 2025.</span></p> </span> </div> <p><a href="/geography/sarah-posner-0" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="40f5fd70-f57d-412f-a1b8-891066d6edca" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Sarah Posner">Sarah Posner</a> is a <span>PhD candidate in the Department of Geography&nbsp;</span>advised by <a href="/geography/john-oloughlin" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="04c45e5a-6535-407c-bf3e-ef62e24241e6" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="John O'Loughlin">Professor John O’Loughlin</a>. Her current work focuses on the role of local institutions used by four pastoralist societies to manage resources and associated conflict and thus sustain their livelihoods in an arid region of Northern Kenya.</p><p>The arid rangelands of Northern Kenya support the livelihoods of diverse pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, which depend on natural resources including <span>grazing areas and water&nbsp;</span>sources that are seasonally <span>available and thus prone&nbsp;</span>to environmental pressures. When conflicts arise over resource use, traditional reconciliation forums exist which have evolved alongside mechanisms implemented by formal county and national governments as well as NGOs and other non-state actors, creating increasingly hybridized local institutions.</p><p>In March 2025, with CU support from the CARTSS grant, Posner conducted pilot dissertation fieldwork in Isiolo County, Northern Kenya. <span>At the time, US federal&nbsp;</span>funding remained uncertain, and her recently awarded NSF-DDRI <span>(Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement)&nbsp;</span>grant had not yet been disbursed. Posner piloted her questionnaire through focus group discussions (FGDs) to refine the&nbsp;<span> </span>design of a large survey (N=1000) and ensure contextual relevance. These FGDs were conducted in three of her four field sites in ethnically distinctive wards. Posner sought to identify the roles and practices of local committees, specifically those responsible for grazing, water, and conflict management. These FGDs built upon earlier participatory mapping exercises Posner conducted in summer 2024 and had two primary aims: first, to validate the participatory maps with a new set of respondents in each site; and second, to understand the institutional architecture governing the management of water and pasture resources, as well as mechanisms for resolving associated conflicts.</p> <div class="align-left image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/Posner%20and%20her%20RA%20taking%20notes%20during%20a%20focus%20group%20discussion%20with%20the%20local%20grazing%20committee%20in%20Ngaremara%2C%20Isiolo%20county%20March%202025.jpg?itok=5ykbp0L6" width="750" height="562" alt="Posner and her RA taking notes during a focus group discussion with the local grazing committee in Ngaremara, Isiolo county March 2025."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Posner and her RA taking notes during a focus group discussion with the local grazing committee in Ngaremara, Isiolo county March 2025.</p> </span> </div> <p>Posner found that each community manages peace, water, and grazing through committees that range from customary to formalized structures. In two wards, the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), which oversees 43 conservancies in Northern Kenya, manages these committees. Respondents generally viewed NRT positively due to its provision of essential services often lacking from the state. <span>However, in one ward</span>, Borana respondents criticized NRT over transparency, accountability, and alleged land appropriation. The Borana rely on a customary system, <em>dedha</em>, governed by elders to manage grazing and water, but its lack of formal recognition hinders negotiations with other groups, including Somali communities in neighboring Wajir and Garissa County. Posner will conclude this phase of <span>fieldwork in eastern Isiolo county to gather Somali perspectives on rangeland management and conflict, particularly over frequent cattle raids with the Borana.</span></p><p>Data from the FGDs was instrumental to Posner’s dissertation work as she used the local knowledge to inform a questionnaire that is more locally appropriate and context <span>specific. The</span> large N survey will be implemented in Summer 2025 to investigate whether the efficacy of these local institutional arrangements is associated with attitudes towards armed conflict and cooperation arrangements.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:53:10 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3852 at /geography Sara Fleming: New Course Engages Students in CU 51“«Ć½'s Climate Action Plan /geography/2025/04/28/sara-fleming-new-course-engages-students-cu-boulders-climate-action-plan <span>Sara Fleming: New Course Engages Students in CU 51“«Ć½'s Climate Action Plan</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:42:49-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:42">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:42</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/PHOTO-2025-03-12-16-27-17.jpg?h=7baf26e5&amp;itok=BRB9Sza1" width="1200" height="800" alt="Members of the Co-teaching team (Pictured from left to right: Mariah Bowman, Brigid Mark, Sara Fleming, and Sean Benjamin)"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/110"> Feature-Grad </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1403" hreflang="en">Sara Fleming</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/PHOTO-2025-03-12-16-27-17.jpg?itok=bxnVdoU7" width="750" height="563" alt="Members of the Co-teaching team (Pictured from left to right: Mariah Bowman, Brigid Mark, Sara Fleming, and Sean Benjamin)"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Members of the Co-teaching team (Pictured from left to right: Mariah Bowman, Brigid Mark, Sara Fleming, and Sean Benjamin)</p> </span> </div> <p><span>The Geography Department is offering a new Special Topics course this semester, GEOG4002: Climate Action Planning. This unique interdisciplinary course was co-designed and is being co-taught by five graduate students from across departments: </span><a href="/geography/sara-fleming" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="974d0774-60f2-4e91-b257-26ddc663cd77" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Sara Fleming"><span>Sara Fleming</span></a><span> (Geography), </span><a href="/lab/hannigan/sean-benjamin" rel="nofollow"><span>Sean Benjamin</span></a><span> (Mechanical Engineering), </span><a href="/atoc/jonah-shaw-hehimhis" rel="nofollow"><span>Jonah Shaw</span></a><span> (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences), </span><a href="/sociology/brigid-mark" rel="nofollow"><span>Brigid Mark </span></a><span>(Sociology), and Mariah Bowman (Law). The 24 undergraduate students in the course are learning the fundamental skills of climate action planning and are now working on group research projects to better understand and reduce emissions from different areas of CU 51“«Ć½'s campus, including waste, business travel, commuting, and student/parent travel.</span></p> <div class="align-left image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/59e46f8a-9b17-481b-a4aa-23b7df5affc3.JPG?itok=tIlE4mOO" width="750" height="633" alt="Students"> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><span>Students have been incredibly engaged in the class and excited about the hands-on opportunity to influence climate action at CU. They will present their ideas to administrators and stakeholders at the Sustainability Summit on April 22. The graduate students received financial support from the College of Engineering and Zonta Foothills Club to teach this class and hope to continue the course next academic year. If you are interested in supporting or being a part of future iterations of the course, please reach out to&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:sara.fleming@colorado.edu" rel="nofollow"><span>sara.fleming@colorado.edu</span></a><span>.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:42:49 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3851 at /geography Millie Spencer Studying Glacier Retreat in Chile /geography/2025/04/28/millie-spencer-studying-glacier-retreat-chile <span>Millie Spencer Studying Glacier Retreat in Chile</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:35:36-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:35">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:35</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/Picture3.jpg?h=2e0b1b76&amp;itok=FxqdQlf9" width="1200" height="800" alt="Millie Spencer Picture 3"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/110"> Feature-Grad </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1371" hreflang="en">Millie Spencer</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/Picture1.jpg?itok=Hcbt8Qtj" width="375" height="499" alt="Picture1"> </div> </div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/Picture3.jpg?itok=UdUgeJxX" width="375" height="501" alt="Millie Spencer Picture 3"> </div> </div> <p><span>My name is </span><a href="/geography/millie-spencer" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="56089d57-b6cf-465e-844b-fdb81143f693" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Millie Spencer"><span>Millie Spencer</span></a><span>, and I am a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Geography Department. I am currently on a Fulbright Award studying glacier retreat and its downstream impacts in south-central Chile.&nbsp;Hosted jointly by the University of Chile’s Civil Engineering Department and Indigenous Peoples Program, my work integrates glacier field measurements, glacier-hydrological modeling, and semi-structured interviews with periglacial communities. This approach seeks to bridge scientific methods with Indigenous and local knowledge, recognizing community memory as a critical resource for understanding climate change and informing adaptation strategies.</span></p> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/Picture2.jpg?itok=bd_NhkM4" width="375" height="500" alt="Millie Spencer Picture 2"> </div> </div> <p><span>The first month and a half of my time here in Chile has been a whirlwind. The season to safely and accurately measure glaciers here in Chile is February-April, so I am working hard to hike to as many glaciers as possible before winter begins in full force. Accompanied by my generous colleagues here in Chile, we are hiking a chain of stratovolcanoes&nbsp;in south-central Chile to fly uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and build digital elevation models of the glaciers. These models enable us to compute the volume loss of the glaciers over time.</span></p><p><span>In March, I spent two days camping at the base of Glaciar Nevado with my colleague Robert Clasings. The hike to Glaciar Nevado is an arduous 8 miles up volcanic sand dunes and lahars. However, our gorgeous camp near a waterfall with a view of the glacier above made the effort worthwhile. This mission enabled us to map the entire glacier, including a debris covered portion that was previously unidentified by scientists.&nbsp;</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:35:36 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3850 at /geography Geography Professor Abdalati Visits Capitol Hill /geography/2025/04/28/geography-professor-abdalati-visits-capitol-hill <span>Geography Professor Abdalati Visits Capitol Hill</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:33:16-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:33">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:33</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/IMG_4314%5B1%5D.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=qyuRj5D8" width="1200" height="800" alt="Figure: Professor Abdalati (4th from the right) in the lobby of the Capitol Building with other Cooperative Institute Directors"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/106"> Feature-Faculty </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/130" hreflang="en">Waleed Abdalati</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/IMG_4314%5B1%5D.jpeg?itok=8w4kB1g-" width="750" height="563" alt="Figure: Professor Abdalati (4th from the right) in the lobby of the Capitol Building with other Cooperative Institute Directors"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p><span>Figure:</span><em><span> Professor Abdalati (4th from the right) in the lobby of the Capitol Building with other Cooperative Institute Directors</span></em></p> </span> </div> <p><span>On March 24-25, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) Director and Geography Professor </span><a href="/geography/waleed-abdalati-0" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="79301207-4108-4d54-8a0d-62becd82389f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Waleed Abdalati"><span>Waleed Abdalati</span></a><span>, met with staff from the offices of both Republican and Democratic members of Colorado congressional delegation to discuss the potential impacts of threatened cuts to the NOAA, NSF, NASA, and other research agency budgets and how they would impact the interests of the State of Colorado and their respective congressional districts. In addition to meeting with the offices of senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, he met with staff from the offices of representatives Neguse, Crank, Hurd, and Evans. He and other cooperative institute directors also met with majority and minority staff from various relevant committees, which included the House Science Committee, the House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee. &nbsp;The focus of these committee discussions was to encourage Congress to actively ensure their long-standing support for environmental research continues through the end of the fiscal year and beyond. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:33:16 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3849 at /geography Geography Professor Peter Blanken Publishes New Book: Essentials of Water (Water in the Earth's Physical and Biological Environments) /geography/2025/04/28/geography-professor-peter-blanken-publishes-new-book-essentials-water-water-earths <span>Geography Professor Peter Blanken Publishes New Book: Essentials of Water (Water in the Earth's Physical and Biological Environments)</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:28:35-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:28">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:28</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/41%2BT2l5qKSL.jpg?h=8c0cf571&amp;itok=XmsmlnmP" width="1200" height="800" alt="Essentials of Water"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/106"> Feature-Faculty </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/200" hreflang="en">Peter Blanken</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-04/41%2BT2l5qKSL.jpg?itok=I82BPTcu" width="375" height="472" alt="Essentials of Water"> </div> </div> <p>Water shapes the planet and all life upon it. Breaking down traditional disciplinary barriers, this accessible, holistic introduction to the role and importance of water in Earth's physical and biological environments assumes no prior knowledge. It provides the reader with a clear and coherent explanation of the unique properties of water and how these allow it to affect landscapes and underpin all life on Earth. Contemporary issues surrounding water quality – such as the rise of microplastics and climate change – are highlighted, ensuring readers understand current debates. Giving all of the necessary background and up-to-date references, and including numerous examples and illustrations to explain concepts, worked mathematical calculations, and extensive end-of-chapter questions, this is the ideal introductory textbook for students seeking to understand the inextricable links between water and the environment.</p><p>Key features of the book</p><ul><li>Examines the role and importance of water in both the physical and biological environment in a multi-disciplinary framework</li><li>Provides all of the scientific and mathematical background for a full understanding of the properties of water and its effect on its surroundings, with clear and simple explanations</li><li>Makes no assumptions about students' prior knowledge by providing numerous examples, photographs, and illustrations to explain concepts</li><li>The book is very well suited for courses where a traditional physical hydrology or water policy textbook is not appropriate and/or too advanced and in-depth, providing the structure and organization that can be used to match course objectives for an introductory, basic course on water, and saving instructors' time&nbsp;</li></ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:28:35 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3848 at /geography Blanken and Team Measure Reservoir Evaporation /geography/2025/04/28/blanken-and-team-measure-reservoir-evaporation <span>Blanken and Team Measure Reservoir Evaporation</span> <span><span>Gabriela Rocha Sales</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-28T13:26:01-06:00" title="Monday, April 28, 2025 - 13:26">Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:26</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/IMG_3521.jpg?h=d318f057&amp;itok=qnR7CUpD" width="1200" height="800" alt="tower"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/106"> Feature-Faculty </a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/60"> News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/1460" hreflang="en">Newsletter</a> <a href="/geography/taxonomy/term/200" hreflang="en">Peter Blanken</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/geography/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-04/IMG_3521.jpg?itok=GiCsSyXj" width="750" height="1000" alt="tower"> </div> </div> <p>The water cycle is something we’ve all heard about. Water falls from the sky, soaks into soils and forms streams and rivers that fill lakes or flow into oceans. Evaporation returns water to the atmosphere, and the cycle continues. When we’re concerned with having too much or not enough water, we must measure and model the water cycle to better manage water resources, yet accurate measurements can be challenging.</p><p>Along the Colorado Front Range and in many arid and semi-arid regions world-wide, surface reservoirs store meltwater from the alpine snowpack. The water is then allocated and distributed downstream to water rights holders during the dry, summer months. Accurate accounting of this water is required to assure that the agreed-upon distributions are made. Water inputs and outputs from these reservoirs must therefore be known, including how much water evaporates. The water ā€˜lost’ through evaporation is especially important since it can be a large term in the water cycle. Reservoir managers in Colorado must release water in an amount equal to the volume evaporated from the reservoir. This release compensates downstream users for the water that they would have had access to without the added evaporation loss from the reservoir.</p><p>Historically, evaporation pans, a large dish filled with water located near a reservoir, have been used to measure evaporation. Although the concept is simple and evaporation pans are practical, they rarely provide an accurate estimate of actual reservoir evaporation. Improper placement, and the small volume of water stored compared to a reservoir, typically results in large overestimates of evaporation in the summertime, large underestimates in the fall, and no estimates in the winter when the pans are removed.</p><p>In an effort to help manage water resources, <a href="/geography/peter-blanken-0" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="49846792-55b9-462e-ae41-a446eb373ca9" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Peter Blanken">Professor Blanken</a> and his PhD candidate, <a href="/geography/holly-roth" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e48f59e9-cade-4f7e-8846-8bbdfd7d5056" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Holly Roth">Holly Roth</a>, are directly measuring evaporation from Standley Lake reservoir in Westminster Colorado using a state-of-the-art method seldom used over reservoirs in the American West. As recently featured on <a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/16/measuring-water-evaporation-standley-lake/" rel="nofollow">Colorado Public Radio</a>, they installed a suite of meteorological sensors used to measure evaporation. These measurements have been collected since 2020, and help water managers to allocate precisely the correct volume of water, thereby saving water for times when it’s really needed. Their goal is to use a reservoir water balance model to extend their measurements to other reservoirs across the Front Range. As the Front Range’s population and air temperature continues to increase, and the snowpack decreases, their hope is that this research will help conserve this important resource. According to Professor Blanken, ā€œJust as people and plants need water, so does the atmosphere. For each degree Celsius increase in air temperature, the atmosphere’s demand for water vapor increases by 7%, so it’s very important that that we measure and account for all sources of water loss including evaporation.ā€</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:26:01 +0000 Gabriela Rocha Sales 3847 at /geography