Volume 44, Number 8 • September 2009 In This Issue Jane Goodall to Receive Atlas Award at AAG Meeting he AAG is pleased to an- In addition to a substantial cash prize, nounce that Jane Goodall has an Atlas statuette will be presented to Tbeen named the first recipient Goodall and all future awardees to serve of the AAG Atlas Award. Dr. Goodall as a compelling keepsake for them and From the Meridian .................1 will receive the award at the AAG an inspiring symbol for the award pro- President’s Column ................3 Annual Meeting on April 16, 2010, gram itself. The Atlas statue also conveys Washington Monitor ..............9 in Washington, D.C., where she will the international nature of this award Op-Ed ........................................11 deliver a presentation for the media clearly and graphically. Grants and Awards and to an expected gathering of more Jane Goodall truly embodies the Received ............................12 than 7,000 geographers and other ideals and goals of the AAG Atlas Grants and Competitions ..12 attendees from around the world. CREDIT: JEFF ORLOWSKI Award, and we are delighted that Of Note .....................................14 The Atlas Award is designed to Goodall she will inaugurate this new award New Appointments .............15 recognize and cele brate outstanding by the Association of American AAG Annual Meeting Call accomplishments that advance world understanding Geo graphers. Dr. Goodall began her landmark for Papers ..........................16 in exceptional ways. The image of Atlas bearing the research on chimpanzees at Gombe Stream New Members .......................18 weight of the world on his shoulders is a powerful in Tanzania in 1960, under the mentorship of Necrology ................................20 metaphor for this award program, as our nominees are anthropologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey. Jobs in Geography ...................22 those who have taken the weight of the world on their Her work there became the foundation for most Specialty Group News ........29 shoulders and moved it forward, whether in science, subsequent primate research and led to redefined Award Deadlines...................30 politics, scholarship, the arts, or in war and peace. Continued on page 2 Forthcoming in AAG Journals .............................30 Call for Papers ........................31 Events .......................................31 Explore the Chesapeake Bay ver the next two years, the AAG will host the time when the cherry trees bloom around D.C.’s its Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. tidal basin, the AAG will meet in the world’s most and Seattle, Washington, cities along his- powerful city, Washington, D.C., along the banks of O the Potomac River and near the heart of the Chesa- toric, iconic, beautiful, but also polluted estuaries. These conferences will peake Bay. This region holds appeal for every possible provide opportunities geographic interest, from the economic development to explore a multitude of the wealthiest American counties to questions of of public policy issues environmental justice in some of its poorest. But the associated with cities, Chesapeake Bay, the first home of Colonial America, rural places, history, represents a striking incongruity. The great waterway and environmental and struggles to maintain its water quality, ecosystems, geographic science, and fisheries in the midst of 17 million people and especially of coasts and three major metropolitan areas; yet it is a profoundly estuaries. beautiful and appealing waterway, where it is common The first meeting, in to see ospreys and bald eagles swoop down to snag April of 2010, around Continued on page 6 CREDIT: MIKE BAGLEY The spectacular Bay Bridge spans more than four miles and connects the rural Eastern Shore of Maryland with the more urban Western Shore and the Call for Papers AAG Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. see pages 16-17 inside www.aag.org AAG Newsletter 1 18966_September_R4.indd 1 8/21/09 9:21:09 AM September 2009 From the Meridian Jane Goodall continued from page 1 AAG Newsletter of the concepts about the relationship between pride, many plant and animal species within the Association of American humans and animals. ecosystem are increasingly endangered or the Geographers Goodall received her PhD from Cam- subjects of international conservation concern. bridge University in 1965, and became the The unique Greater Gombe Ecosystem Scientific Director of the Gombe Stream also has Tanzania’s highest human population Research Center 1967. In 1977, she growth rate. The Jane Goodall Institute has Douglas Richardson, Publisher established the Jane Goodall Institute initiated holistic strategies designed to restore and Managing Editor (JGI), which continues the Gombe re- and improve the ecosystem for the benefit of Jim Ketchum, Editor search and is a global leader chimpanzees as well as the sur- in the effort to protect rounding human communities. AAG Voice 202-234-1450 chimpanzees and their habi- Many of these strategies depend AAG Fax 202-234-2744 tats. The Institute is widely on GIS, high resolution imag- [email protected] recognized for establishing in- ery, and geographic analysis to www.aag.org novative, community-centered monitor ongoing habitat frag- conservation and development mentation and to help develop USPS 987-380 ISSN 0275-3995 programs in Africa, and its innovative approaches to try to “Roots & Shoots” global en- meet the needs of the humans The AAG Newsletter ISSN 0275- vironmental and humanitarian and chimpanzees who both rely 3995 is published monthly with July/ youth program has almost on the ecosystem for their sub- August combined, by the Association 100,000 members in nearly sistence. As a result of our recent Richardson of American Geographers, 1710 16th 100 countries. meetings, the AAG has begun Street NW, Washington, DC 20009- Jane Goodall's many honors working together with the Jane 3198. The cost of an annual subscrip- include the Medal of Tanzania, Japan's Kyoto Goodall Institute on these efforts, which offers tion is $25.00. The subscription price Prize, Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for an intriguing ongoing dimension to the Atlas Technical and Scientific Research, the Ben- Award program. is included in the annual dues of the jamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, and The creation of the new AAG Atlas Award Association. Not available to non- the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence. In was made possible by generous contributions members. Periodicals postage paid in April 2002, Secretary-General Kofi Annan ap- from many geographers, including significant Washington, DC. All news items and pointed Dr. Goodall to serve as a United founding gifts by Harm de Blij and Tom letters, including job listings, should be Nations Messenger of Peace, and she was Baerwald, both of whom provided not only sent to the Editor at the address below reappointed in June 2007 by Secretary substantial donations toward the funding of the or to [email protected]. General Ban Ki-moon. In 2006, Goodall re- award, but also thoughtful insight to the AAG All Newsletter materials must arrive ceived the French Legion of Honor, as well as Council and the award committee regarding at the Association office by the 1st of the UNESCO Gold Medal. the launch of the new award. the month preceding the month of the Goodall’s many publications include two over- Of course, an endeavor of this magnitude publication. This includes job listings. views of her work at Gombe—In the Shadow of Man can only be successful with the support of Material will be published on a space and Through a Window—as well as the best-selling all AAG members. To that end, the AAG available basis and at the discretion of autobiography, Reason for Hope. Her book, The welcomes matching donations that will help the editorial staff. Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior is increase and sustain the award funding and When your address changes, please recognized as the definitive work on chim- its international visibility. For more informa- notify the Association office imme- panzees. She has been the subject of tion on the Atlas Award or about the Jane diately. Six weeks notice is necessary numerous television documentaries and films, Goodall Institute, and how you can help, to ensure uninterrupted delivery of including the recent Almost Human. please visit www.aag.org. AAG publications. To assist the AAG Goodall’s receipt of the AAG Atlas Award in I would like to invite you to join Jane office in your address change, include 2010 also coincides with the 50th Anniversary Goodall and the AAG in Washington, D.C. on the address label with your change of of the beginning of her seminal research with April 16, 2010, to celebrate her extraordinary address. chimpanzee communities in Africa at Gombe accomplishments of the past half century, and Postmaster: Send address changes Stream. The Jane Goodall Institute today con- to discuss with her and with geo graphers from to AAG Newsletter, 1710 16th Street tinues to support the Gombe research station around the world our plans for a sustainable and works to protect and sustain the Greater n NW, Washington, DC 20009-3198, or future for our planet. Gombe Ecosystem (GGE), which is considered [email protected]. a natural treasure. At Gombe, while chimpanzees Doug Richardson are subjects of global importance and national [email protected] 2 AAG Newsletter www.aag.org 18966_September_R4.indd 2 8/21/09 9:21:10 AM President’s Column Volume 44, Number 8 Hidden Treasures of the AAG ome benefits of AAG membership, not produced research and reference materials a wide range of professional relationships as immediately evident as Annual Meet- to improve the process of professional devel- involving colleagues, the larger scholarly ings or job postings, will reward those opment of graduate students. Even those community, students, people, places, and S who do not teach graduate students should things (in research), institutions and founda- who spend a little time exploring the AAG’s resources online.