The overall mission of the Department of Geography is to conduct theoretical and applied geographic research in a dynamic and responsive manner that educates and inspires students to become critical and committed citizens who contribute to solutions for our planet.
Department head: Brian King
Associate Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Bronwen Powell
Associate Head of Undergraduate Programs: Chris Fowler
Associate Head of Resident Graduate Programs: Trevor Birkenholtz
Director of Online Geospatial Education: Anthony Robinson
Degrees offered: B.S., B.A., M.S., M.GIS, Ph.D., minors, and certificates
Visit Department Website: https://geog.psu.edu
Penn State University Libraries will observe GIS Day, an annual event celebrating the technology of geographic information systems (GIS), on Nov. 16. This year's events focus on student success and career readiness via presentations, an alumni career panel, networking opportunities and a new geospatial showcase entitled GeoGallery.
Walking has been shown to improve the overall health of a community and can predict the prevalence of chronic disease, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to the World Health Organization. Because of this, city planners assess neighborhoods’ walkability, which measures how built environments support walking, when planning improvements.
Four doctoral candidates in Penn State’s Department of Geography will deliver research talks as part of the department’s Graduate Student Coffee Hour series at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. The event also will be accessible via Zoom.
Pennsylvania has more than 27,000 known abandoned and orphan natural gas wells, according to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley. These disused wells can pose health risks to nearby residents and negative environmental impacts to the surrounding areas, so the DEP has awarded a five-year, $2.4 million grant to a team led by Penn State researchers to better assess these potential impacts.
Historically, wildfire research has focused on the western United States. However, changing climate conditions, increasing drought severity and dense development patterns are rapidly altering wildfire risk across the Eastern United States. Penn State hosted the Eastern Wildfire Forum in September to address the growing challenge of wildfire in the commonwealth and across the Eastern United States.
Kara Fikrig, assistant professor of entomology at Penn State, will deliver the talk “Understanding the Distribution of Invasive Mosquitoes Across the Landscape — And the Human Role in Shaping It” at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, in 112 Walker Building at University Park and via Zoom.
During her final semester at Penn State, Marsella Degnan gained hands-on research experience through the Department of Geography by helping track how opioid settlement funds are being used across Pennsylvania.
Three geographers whose research examines climate justice, energy systems and changing relationships between people and the environment will take part in a public keynote discussion panel from 3:45 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 2, at the Overlook Pavilion at the Arboretum at Penn State.
Shannon Speed, Paula Gunn Allen Chair and professor of American Indian studies, gender studies and anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will deliver the Penn State Department of Geography’s annual E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Endowed Lecture at noon on Friday, Oct. 23, in the Foster Auditorium at Penn State University Park and via Zoom.
Roberta Mendonça De Carvalho, teaching associate professor in the urban studies program at the University of Pittsburgh, will deliver a talk titled “500 Cities in 50 Years: Fragmentation and Urban Expansion in the Amazon” at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, in 112 Walker Building at Penn State University Park. The talk will also be accessible via Zoom.
