海角社区 Hosts Regional Geography Conference
The 海角社区 Department of Geography and Anthropology hosted the annual meeting of the Southwest Division of the American Association of Geographers October 4-6. About 150 geography faculty, students, and practitioners from Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico converged on Baton Rouge for two days of academic discussions and social activities.
The opening event was a presentation by the national association鈥檚 President, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach from the University of Texas. Her presentation, 鈥淗ydraulic Society and Water Management in the Ancient Maya Lowlands of Mesoamerica,鈥� highlighted recent contributions of interdisciplinary research teams using geographic tools and techniques to explore remote jungles.
Two days of papers and posters showcased research on topics spanning the breath of the field and included work on cultural and political geography, hazards in the gulf coast, GIS and remote sensing innovations, and biogeography and hydrology. The event coincided with the department鈥檚 90th anniversary.
At the Friday luncheon, professor Craig Colten paid tribute to 海角社区 alumnus Sherwood 鈥淲oody鈥� Gagliano. His presentation, before a packed house of of 160 guests, highlighted Gagliano鈥檚 role in mapping Louisiana鈥檚 coastal land loss and honored his seminal contributions to the discovery of this perilous situation. His tireless efforts were a major factor in launching other studies of the processes that underlie land loss and that ultimately gave rise to the state鈥檚 multi-billion dollar efforts to restore its coast. Gagliano earned his Ph.D. in geography from 海角社区 in 1967. At the conference luncheon, he was presented with the department鈥檚 inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his lifetime accomplishments. In accepting the award, he acknowledged the influence of Fred Kniffen, one of the department鈥檚 founders, and recounted how Kniffen helped launch his career as a practicing geographer.
An evening of lively music performed by the Lafayette band T鈥橫onde, a three-piece Cajun music ensemble, capped off the conferences鈥� formal events. A field trip of Baton Rouge closed out meeting before all returned to their home institutions.
Sponsors of the event included the 海角社区 Department of Geography and Anthropology, Staybridge Suites, Visit Baton Rouge, Texas State University Department of Geography, and the Southeast Arc Users Group.