The U is celebrating Geography Week — atlas.
Through Friday, the Geography Department will host career discussions and show films as part of its festivities. George Hepner, director of undergraduate studies in the department, said this is something the U has done for at least 10 years.
“It’s trying to build an awareness and understanding of what 21st century geography is about,” Hepner said.
The first event, held Tuesday, was a geographic information systems (GIS) meeting where David Terry, who started SilverHawk Aerial Imaging, discussed drones, and U students presented GIS creations.
On Wednesday there will be two career panel discussions where students can hear from U geography graduates about their careers. The first one will include Greg Smith with the National Weather Service Colorado Basin River Forecast Center; Heidi Hadley, a national science advisor; Damien Pitts with U Career Services; and Sean Reid with Cityworks, Inc. It will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Hinckley Institute of Politics caucus room in OSH (255).
The second panel discussion will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in OSH 215. Robert Baskin with U.S. Geological Survey-Water Resources; Curtis Olson with Graymont Mining Inc.; Ian Housman with Red Castle Resources, Inc.; and Damien Pitts with U Career Services will be at the discussion.
Hepner said the career panel discussions will show students what jobs are available after they graduate and what future employers are looking for. The people speaking are from both governmental agencies and the private sector.
Wednesday will also include film showings at the UMFA from 7 to 9:30 p.m, hosted by the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program as part of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The event costs $10 for students and $15 for community members to raise money for a scholarship fund.
Jennifer Watt, associate director of the program, said the films are selected by students in the Sustainability Leadership Committee. This is the fourth annual festival and will include seven films.
Hepner said Thursday will include a geography bowl academic competition in OSH 215 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Teams have been decided, though anyone can go to watch, and the event will be a question-and-answer format.
Friday will conclude Geography Week with featured speaker Heidi Hadley, a national science advisor from the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C.. She will speak at OSH 175 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
@shellybrooke17