Category Archives: Announcement

Happy Geography Awareness Week 2022!

This week we are celebrating Geography Awareness Week!

The History of Geography Awareness Week:

Thirty-five years ago, the National Geographic Society advocated to create Geography Awareness Week. Geography Awareness Week is a way to celebrate and raise awareness of geography, both as a discipline and as a part of daily life. The National Geographic Society felt the limited exposure to geography in American education was a dangerous deficiency. Without proper exposure to geography, students are unable to make effective decisions, understand geo-spatial and geo-political issues, or even recognize their impacts as global citizens.
— see more at the National Geographic Website

To learn more about the exciting adventures and careers in geography, visit the National Geographic Explorers webpage: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-explorers/.

Geography Awareness Week Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

Please consider joining our in-person event in the College of Design in Ames, Iowa. Here are a few virtual events taking place during Geography Awareness Week:

Monday, November 14, 2022 – 10 am (Central) – People, Plants, and You! presented by Maria Fadiman – Join National Geographic Explorer Maria Fadiman to learn how people connect with plants around the globe–and the importance of geography! https://www.nationalgeographic.org/tickets/explorer-classroom/event/PeoplePlantsAndYou/

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 10 am to 4pm – 2022 GeoTech Center Virtual GIS Day
Speakers will present on a number of GIS related topics throughout the day – View Agenda https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/23b6ae31a4e8443290a6efbd868b4c20

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – Live GIS Day Facebook Live Event with Joseph Kerski
Join geographer, educator, and GIS professional Joseph Kerski to (1) Celebrate the users of GIS, (2) Explore why maps and geotechnologies are relevant to 21st Century problem-solving, and (3) Discover how you can make your own maps and pursue your own learning! https://fb.me/e/3PtnqfMUz

Thursday, November 17, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – The Art and Science of Sustainability presented by E Wen Wong – Learn how National Geographic Explorer E Wen Wong’s organization relies on both art and science to illustrate how we are impacting the environment and to inspire positive environmental change.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/tickets/explorer-classroom/event/ArtandScienceofSustainability2/

Are you Counting Down to GIS Day 2022?

Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the Iowa State University GIS Facility will be hosting an open house event for GIS Day from 11:30 to 2:00 in the North atrium of the College of Design.

This year we will also be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ISU GIS Facility and 50 years of Landsat, the US Land Satellite mission. We will have refreshments and giveaways. It will be a chance for students interested in the GIS minor and GIS certificate programs to ask questions and to meet with GIS professionals. We have confirmed professionals from the Iowa Department of Transportation coming to showcase some of their work. If other GIS professionals are interested in reserving time to meet with students, please contact Amy Logan.

How are you celebrating the Landsat’s Golden Jubilee?

This image is from the Camp Landsat website: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/camp-landsat/

To celebrate the Landsat Golden Jubilee, consider taking a virtual visit to Camp Landsat! This summer Camp Landsat is celebrating this exciting anniversary with 5 weeks of programming, celebrating the 5 decades of Landsat’s continuous mission. This week the theme is People and Places.

Enjoy and explore many activities from Camp Landsat including:

Graphic from GLOBE Program Website: https://observer.globe.gov/do-globe-observer/challenges/land-cover-challenge-2022

Stay Cool and Keep Observing!


Celebrating 50 years of Landsat Earth Observation!

Saturday, July 23, 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of the USGS/NASA Landsat earth observing satellite mission. With the launch in 1972, Landsat has continued its earth observation mission and become the longest continuous earth observing satellite.

July 1972 – Landsat 1 Launch: This image is from the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/images/history/July1972.html

Enjoy this video recalling the launch and explaining the beginning of the earth observing satellite mission, Landsat 9 – Part 1: Getting off The Ground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlRf17Egexo.


Keep Observing!


Join in the Upcoming Summer GIS Workshop for Educators

Dear Teachers,

As the summer approaches, we wanted to encourage you to save the date for an upcoming GIS workshop for K-12 educators being held at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa on July 20-21, 2022.  See attached poster for more details.  Also please send us an email if you are interested but can’t make this event.  If there is enough interest, we may hold a second workshop, in August or the fall.

Please contact Amy Logan or Debbie Stevens with any questions.

Announcing the Golden Jubilee of the Landsat Mission

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first Landsat satellite (July 23, 1972). To celebrate fifty years of earth observation, IowaView will be posting various images and gif documenting Landsat in Iowa and around the world. Check back regularly for new images and articles. #TimeLapseTuesday #ThrowbackThursday