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GeoInspirations: Amazing People in GIS and Related Fields

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10-06-2017 06:01 AM
JosephKerski
by Esri Notable Contributor
Esri Notable Contributor
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‎10-06-2017 06:01 AM

The column I write for Directions Magazine called Geoinspirations is now over 1 year old.  It features people who are making a positive difference through their work in GIS, geography, oceanography, climatology, city planning, and related fields. I thank the Directions editors Rebeckah Flowers and Barbaree Duke for believing in this column and supporting it.  I have personally enjoyed very much interacting with the people I have interviewed and written about; just thinking about them makes me smile.  Here is a spiffy new page in Directions Magazine, where they are all featured in a gallery:

 

https://www.directionsmag.com/playlist/6651

 

Consider using this column to inspire your students, but also to help them see the variety of career pathways possible.

This is a great tribute to these individuals and to our geo-field that we have such a diversity of backgrounds and stories, but with some common visions, too!   

 

If you know of someone who should be featured, please let me know.

~~ Joseph Kerski

GeoInspirations column in Directions Magazine

About the Author
I believe that spatial thinking can transform education and society through the application of Geographic Information Systems for instruction, research, administration, and policy. I hold 3 degrees in Geography, have served at NOAA, the US Census Bureau, and USGS as a cartographer and geographer, and teach a variety of F2F (Face to Face) (including T3G) and online courses. I have authored a variety of books and textbooks about the environment, STEM, GIS, and education. These include "Interpreting Our World", "Essentials of the Environment", "Tribal GIS", "The GIS Guide to Public Domain Data", "International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS In Secondary Education", "Spatial Mathematics" and others. I write for 2 blogs, 2 monthly podcasts, and a variety of journals, and have created over 5,000 videos on the Our Earth YouTube channel. Yet, as time passes, the more I realize my own limitations and that this is a lifelong learning endeavor and thus I actively seek mentors and collaborators.