March 22, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Faculty and students in Western Kentucky University’s Department of Geography and Geology traveled to three continents over spring break as part of the department’s ongoing global research initiative.
Dr. Chris Groves, director of the Hoffman Institute, part of Ogden College's Applied Research and Technology Program, traveled to China to continue research as part of China Environmental Health Project, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with the support of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Scott Dobler and Pat Kambesis joined Dr. Groves on the trip to China. Dobler, co-coordinator of the Kentucky Geographical Alliance, accompanied the expedition to help put a human face on the research project and to develop teaching materials for Kentucky P-12 earth science and geography teachers. Kambesis, an internationally renown expert on cave mapping, continued to help develop exploration and mapping systems for local communities in southwest China.
Dr. L. Michael Trapasso traveled to Turkey to continue research for the next edition of his popular earth science textbook “Essentials of Physical Geography.” During his travels, Dr. Trapasso looks for important visual examples of earth’s physical properties so that he can photograph them and use the graphic as a teaching tool in the textbook.
Dr. David Keeling, Geography and Geology department head, traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, to continue research on urban and regional development issues. His latest article, “Transport Geography: New Directions on Well-Worn Trails,” has just been published in the international journal “Progress in Human Geography.” During this visit to South Africa, he examined urban transport systems in preparation for another article on transportation networks and systems to be published in 2008.
“Part of the department’s educational mission is to incorporate research from myriad countries around the world into the local geoscience curriculum,” Dr. Keeling said. “Preparing students for success in a global society becomes more meaningful when examples from other places and peoples can be shared with our students in Bowling Green.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact David Keeling at (270) 745-4555.
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