Geography Blog

Author: averslui

  • A note from Emery, in the D.R.

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    averslui

    Geography Major Emery Ellingson is studying in the Dominican Republic this semester. He writes: I had the opportunity to visit Constanza last weekend and for the first time here in the Dominican Republic, I actually had a reason to wear the sweatshirt that I threw in my suitcase at the last minute.  This is because…

  • Incoming international students tour Saint Peter with Prof. Douglas

    Incoming international students tour Saint Peter with Prof. Douglas

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    averslui

    Bob Douglas took the first-year international students from Kenya, South Africa, Libya, China, Japan, and many other countries on a walking field trip of St. Peter. They want to come to the World Regional classes.

  • Geography major studying in the Dominican Republic

    Geography major studying in the Dominican Republic

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    averslui

    Here is a post from Gustavus Geography major Emery Ellingson. Thanks, Emery! (We love updates from our students and alums, so feel free to email Anna at averslui@ with notes we can post on our blog.) This year I have been fortunate enough to be able to study abroad and will be spending the fall…

  • Geography Major Melissa Wygant attends Natural Hazards Workshop

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    averslui

    Geography Major Melissa Wygant attended a national conference on risks and hazards in Colorado this week. She writes: The 36th Annual Natural Hazards Workshop held in Broomfield, Colorado, is a wonderful opportunity to network with students, educators and professionals who work in various sectors related to natural hazards. It has been a great opportunity to…

  • Gallo pinto!

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    averslui

    Professor-Chef Bob Douglas (left) cooks and serves gallo pinto, the national dish of Costa Rica, for breakfast on his 9 AM morning show (also known as GEG-233 Latin America and the Caribbean).

  • Google enters the remote sensing world

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    averslui

    In Google’s quest to take over the world through providing services so helpful and cool we can’t turn them down, they are now entering the world of remotely sensed data. The new Google Earth Engine has many years’ worth of satellite-derived earth observation data for viewing, although apparently not for downloading unless you have VIP…

  • Introducing Grace and Lucia

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    averslui

    Twin girls, Lucia and Grace Penner, were born to Geography professor Anna Versluis and her husband Ben Penner on June 28. The girls were born 8 weeks early but are doing very well. Here we are getting ready to leave the hospital nursery.

  • Big questions geographers ask (and try to answer!)

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    averslui

    The National Research Council recently published a report that defines 11 major geographical science questions for the next decade. The  questions are not only intellectually interesting, but have significant import for the way we and our children will live. Of the questions below, can you figure out which are the 11 questions this geographical committee…

  • Detecting and Assessing Marine Oil Spills

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    averslui

    This blog is by Gustavus senior Kelsey Brugger as part of the GEG-345 Remote Sensing class. Detecting the full extent of oil spills is very difficult without the aid of technology. When it is detected it is hard to know the oil thickness. Using remote sensing to detect and monitor oil spills is very helpful.…

  • Where once stood a lake

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    averslui

    The GEG-105 Physical Geography: Earth System Science course visited a former lake in Nicollet County yesterday. Whereas once huge expanses of southern Minnesota were covered with wetlands, an estimated 90 percent of these have been drained. With the addition of tiling to drain excess water, these former wetlands are highly productive crop land. Drainage of…