What is your name?Dr. James Elsner What kind of work do you do for the College?I am a professor in the geography department at Florida State University. I teach, do research and engage in service in the department, profession and community. Why did you decide to become an academic? I’m a first-generation academic. In fact,…
Category: geography
Meet a Social Scientist: Dr. Wong from Geography
What is your name?Dr. Sandy Wong What kind of work do you do for the College?I am an assistant professor in the geography department at Florida State University. I teach, do research and engage in service in the department, profession and community. Why did you decide to become an academic? I became an academic because I…
Meet a Social Scientist: Dr. Ponder from Human Geography.
What is your name?Dr. Sage Ponder. What kind of work do you do in the College?I am an assistant professor in the Geography Department at The Florida State University. I teach, do research and engage in service in the department, profession and community. Why did you decide to become an academic? There was a particular…
Swarming tornadoes
This post first appeared on the Florida State University’s Department of Geography News & Chair’s Blog. The violent winds of tornadoes are one of the most dangerous natural hazards on Earth. While relatively rare in any one location they often occur in swarms. I’ve been working with graduate student Zoe Schroder to answer the question of whether…
Climate Change’s Effect on Tornadoes
Tornadoes, with their potentially violent winds, are one of the most dangerous natural hazards on Earth. While tornadoes are generally pretty rare in any one location, they often occur in swarms. My research attempts to answer the question of whether or not climate change is making tornado swarms worse, and if so, how. Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States but are most common east of the Rocky Mountains (see Figure 1). Tornadoes form from large thunderstorms primarily during the months of March through May. These giant thunderstorms are capable of producing very destructive long lasting tornadoes. Swarms of tornadoes are…
Sedentary Time Linked to Weather for Kids in Mexico City
Global increases in sedentary behavior – like sitting or lying down – are worrisome for public health as they may be harbingers of increased mortality and morbidity, such as obesity and high blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 25% of adults and more than 80% of adolescents across the world are not physically…
The Cultural Landscape of Thanksgiving
This is a repost. The blog was first posted 11/19/18. Thanksgiving is upon us. As we ready to join our families this holiday, it is worth taking a moment to reflect upon the meaning of the holiday. As a cultural geographer, I study how systems of cultural meaning and power structure our understanding of the…
Halloween Screams Prosperity
As consumers purchase candy, costumes, and pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween can be a time to reflect on traditions and prosperity.
Ph.D. Spotlight: Bivariate and Multivariate Geovisualization Methods Using Color, Gridded Symbologies, and Visual Analytics
While univariate maps are both standard and widespread, there are limitations to their uses. Bivariate maps have the potential to reveal spatial relationships and patterns between two variables on a single map more effectively than by using two side-by-side univariate maps. Bivariate maps can make use of a variety of symbol strategies, such as color…
Ph.D. Spotlight: On Geography, Institutions, Human Capital, and Economic Development.
Dr. Montesinos-Yufa’s dissertation takes a look at the three main hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the fundamental causes of growth and economic development. Chapter 2 of this dissertation explores the hypothesis that geographic conditions associated with climate and time impact development advisedly, and how this impact, if any, may have changed over time….
