dr. barry wellar professor emeritus of geography, and distinguished geomatics scientist, lab for...
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Dr. Barry Wellar
Professor Emeritus of Geography, and Distinguished Geomatics Scientist,
Lab for Applied Geomatics and GIS Science, University of Ottawa,
Program Director, Geography Awareness Week, Canadian Association of Geographers
[email protected]://www.wellarconsulting.com/
PowerPoint Slides for the Keynote AddressGIS Day 2008
University of Ottawa
November 19, 2008
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
In 2007 the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) tested the idea
of using “Theme Days” during Geography Awareness Week (GAW) to
demonstrate the importance of geography to all Canadians. The
experiment was so successful that it received international attention,
and is being expanded for GAW 2008. To read about the exciting new
program for GAW 2008, visit the CAG website at
cag-acg.ca/en/geography_week.html.
First, we are continuing to explore new ways to learn more about the
importance of geography to the Theme Day topics – Weather and
Climate; Water; Energy; Transportation; and, Food and Health. At the
click of your mouse, you are linked to the ten Canadian websites that
have been selected for each theme because of how well they make the
connection between geography and a theme topic.
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Second, there is an increasing need for all Canadians to learn more about
the importance of geography to the work of governments, businesses,
and other enterprises across Canada. A number of Canadian organizations
are participating in the Applied Geography Showcase which has been
created for GAW 2008. A click of your mouse links you to websites that
are excellent sources of information about the kinds of work, jobs, and
careers that await students trained in applied geography.
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Third, the field of geography is rapidly changing, and universities, colleges,
governments, businesses, and other organizations are introducing many new
ways of thinking about and doing geography. The GeoSkills Showcase provides
links to websites that contain the latest information about education and
training programs in geography, and the exciting and rewarding futures that
await students trained in geographic skills. A click of the mouse takes you to
these websites.
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
THEME DAYS
WEATHER AND CLIMATE DAY WEBSITES
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,
Geography Awareness Week 2008
Canadian Association of Geographers
Weather and Climate
November 17
WATER DAY WEBSITES
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,
Geography Awareness Week 2008
Canadian Association of Geographers
Water
November 18
THEME DAYS
ENERGY DAY WEBSITES
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,
Geography Awareness Week 2008
Canadian Association of Geographers
Energy
November 19
THEME DAYS
TRANSPORTATION DAY WEBSITES
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,
Geography Awareness Week 2008
Canadian Association of Geographers
Transportation
November 20
THEME DAYS
FOOD AND HEALTH DAY WEBSITES
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,
Geography Awareness Week 2008
Canadian Association of Geographers
Food and Health
November 21
THEME DAYS
Background to the Applied Geography Showcase
There is an increasing need to better inform Canadians about the importance of applied
geography to the missions and operations of governments, businesses, and other
organizations across Canada. In recognition of this need, Applied Geography Showcase has
been created as a means to inform Canadians (and the Internet world) about the kinds of
applied geography projects and activities that are being undertaken in universities and
colleges, governments at all levels, businesses in all sectors of the economy, as well as by
advocacy groups, the media, and other organizations.
Background to the GeoSkills Showcase
The websites selected for Theme Days in 2007 illustrate some of the many ways of
thinking about and doing geography, and the websites selected for Theme Days 2008 add
more ways, as do the websites selected for the Applied Geography Showcase.
Clearly, the skills involved in geographic teaching, research, and applications are
numerous, diverse, and rapidly changing as universities, colleges, schools, governments,
businesses, and other organizations introduce new and different methods, techniques,
technologies, and practices to support and promote thinking about and doing geography.
Guidelines 1: Types of GeoSkills
Many kinds of skills are used in teaching, studying, thinking about, and doing geography,
and entire textbooks are dedicated to writing about these skills. However, this is the
inaugural year of a showcase, and it appears advisable to ‘keep things simple’. As a result,
for year one of the GeoSkills Showcase we suggest that it would be very helpful to visitors
if participating websites would organize their geographic skills and materials under such
well established headings as:‐
Guidelines 1: Types of GeoSkills
• Cartography• Geographic field methods• Geographic research methods• Geographic research techniques• Geomatics• Geostatisitics• GIS applications
• GIS fundamentals• GIS principles• GIS science• GIS technology• Remote sensing• Spatial analysis
As indicated by the terms used, the focus is on geographic skills, and that is the overriding criterion for website participation in the GeoSkills Showcase.
Guidelines 3: Inclusiveness
The GeoSkills Showcase is an ideal venue for organizations to demonstrate how they
combine geographic text, geographic numerics, and geographic graphics in their
processes or products. And, it is an ideal venue for providing a range of materials that are
informative and instructive to beginners and newcomers to the field, as well as to people
with advanced training and experience as designers, instructors, and users of these skills.
Acknowledgements I wish to begin by thanking the Coordinators of the Theme Days, Geography Awareness Week 2008, for their assistance.
• Weather and Climate Day, Nov. 17, Sam Herold, University of Ottawa • Water Day, Nov. 18, Bob Patrick, University of Saskatchewan• Energy Day, Nov. 19, Shannon Christie, University of Saskatchewan • Transportation Day, Nov. 20, Barry Wellar: Wellar Consulting Inc.• Food and Health Day, Nov. 21, Nairne Cameron, Algoma University
I also wish to acknowledge the support given to Geography Awareness Week by the Executive Committee of the Canadian Association of Geographers, and in particular by the Executive Secretary, Valerie Shoffey. Finally, the excellent technical support provided by Sam Herold, a Masters candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Ottawa is gratefully acknowledged.
Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair,Geography Awareness Week
Canadian Association of [email protected]