NYGA Newsnotes

	Coordinators' Report National Geographic Funding by Stephen Vermette Co-coordinator of the New York Geographic Alliance Aside from promoting geography in our schools, securing a steady stream of funding is one of the largest challenges for the NYGA. It is easy to see how these two challenges are linked. This year I am pleased to report that the NYGA has received a $100,000 grant from the National Geographic Education Foundation. The grant is a product of our partnership with Hunter College’s Center for Geographic Learning (see below). This funding will translate into a busy year for the Alliance. A large fraction of the monies will go to support activities in New York City – developing geography related activities and holding workshops. We are already planning for a NYC Geofest! Other areas of the state will also benefit. We are currently working on plans for a series of curriculum workshops in the Southern Tier related to the Susquehanna River and links to the Chesapeake Bay, as well as planning an Erie Canal Summer Institute (hopefully the summer of 2007). There are also plans to work with pre-service teachers, as well as exploring the need and feasibility of producing a state atlas. In short…this year will be much to do about geography. Please visit our web page from time-to-time to learn of upcoming opportunities.

	Dr. Phil Gersmehl Bringing a New Emphasis to Geography Education in New York City Photo from the University of Minnesota Dr. Philip Gersmehl is one of the most important geography educators in the nation. This fall he took a position at Hunter College in Manhattan, where he will be a major player in the new Center for Geographic Learning. Currently, he is teaching advanced seminars on educational materials for geography. Many of you had the opportunity to meet Prof. Gersmehl at this year's Geofest, where he was the keynote speaker. Phil comes to New York from the University of Minnesota (He is still part-time at UMN). He has a very long list of accomplishments in the field of geography. He was the primary author of a book on maps and spatial cognition, and another on geographic education. Dr. Gersmehl was the project director of the ARGUS and ARGWorld projects with the Association of American Geographers. These computer programs are masterpieces in geographic education, and they are highly recommended by the New York Geographic Alliance. His dedication to the ARGUS project can be illustrated by an anecdote Dr. Gersmehl shared with us at Geofest. He wanted to take a photograph of the site of the inclined railway in Pennsylvania, where canal boats were pulled over the mountain. He wanted to include a "Wrong Way" sign in the picture. To do this, he had to stand on top of his car. As he was ready to shoot, one of PA's finest arrived on the scene. According to the cop, Phil's explanation was so ridiculous that it had to be true! Hunter College and New York State are very fortunate to have Dr. Gersmehl (and his wife, Carol, a cartographer of renown in her own right) in our corner. Hopefully, he will be active in developing materials for teachers in the New York City area, as part of our new NGS grant. Welcome, Dr. Phil!

Newsnotes of the

Coordinators' Report