Christopher Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, Discusses Maryland Green Prisons Initiative in the Baltimore Sun

Apr 30, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Christopher Swan, an associate professor of geography and environmental systems, is leading the Maryland Green Prisons Initiative, which was launched in partnership with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Baltimore Office of Sustainability and other local collaborators. As part of the program, Swan works with inmates at the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore to spruce up and test wildflowers and grasses in vacant West Baltimore lots. Swan was recently interviewed in the Baltimore Sun about the initiative. “One of the goals of the project is to bring nature into the prison,” he said. “Cities all over the place are having a… Continue Reading Christopher Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, Discusses Maryland Green Prisons Initiative in the Baltimore Sun

Erle Ellis, GES, in The New Yorker

Apr 23, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

In response to recent research published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution that argued scientists should spend more time studying apes’ behavior in places where humans are disrupting their lives, Erle Ellis was interviewed for a recent article in The New Yorker about his Anthropocene research. In the article, Ellis, an associate professor of geography and environmental systems, discussed his research on human influence on ecosystems around the world. “This is the ecology that matters now,” Ellis said. “It’s become the most pervasive context. If you’re interested in working across the span of habitat that species are living in, it’s very likely… Continue Reading Erle Ellis, GES, in The New Yorker

Erle Ellis, GES, Co-Authors Article on the Anthropocene in Science

Apr 7, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Erle Ellis, geography and environmental systems, co-authored a recent article in Science about the beginning of the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene refers to the part of the world’s history where humans significantly impact earth systems. The article reviews differing views on how to ascertain the beginning of the Anthropocene, with some claiming that the epoch started in the 1700s and others favoring a 1945 start date. The authors address the debate and recommend using the term informally in order to identify specific time periods within the larger epoch. “In this way, we could avoid the confinement imposed by a single formal… Continue Reading Erle Ellis, GES, Co-Authors Article on the Anthropocene in Science

GES Seminar Series: Children’s Rights From a Critical Geographic Perspective (3/25)

Mar 20, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

The Department of Geography and Environmental Systems (GES) is delighted to announce that Dr. Stuart Aitken, Professor of Geography and the June Burnett Chair of Children’s and Family Geographies at San Diego State University, will be presenting a talk on Children’s Rights from a Critical Geographic Perspective as part of the GES Seminar Series on March 25th, from 12-1 p.m., in ITE 231. Dr. Aitken directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Young People and Space (ISYS) and is internationally recognized for his research on children’s geographies, youth activism, critical theory, and qualitative methodologies. His recent books include The Ethnopoetics of Space and Transformation (2014), The Fight… Continue Reading GES Seminar Series: Children’s Rights From a Critical Geographic Perspective (3/25)

Erle Ellis, GES, Discusses the Anthropocene in Nature

Mar 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

A recent article in Nature outlines the debate surrounding a movement to establish the Anthropocene as a new global epoch. The Anthropocene refers to the part of the world’s history where humans significantly impact earth systems. In the article, Erle Ellis, geography and information systems, argues against the current effort to formalize the Anthropocene as an epoch. He states, “We should set a time, perhaps 1,000 years from now, in which we would officially investigate this. Making a decision before that would be premature.” Click here to read, “Anthropocene: The human age” in Nature.

Christopher Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, in the New York Times

Dec 4, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Christopher Swan, an associate professor of geography and environmental systems, was quoted in a recent New York Times article about an urban ecology study that found millions of tiny insects are consuming the equivalent of 60,000 frankfurters a year in Manhattan. The study concluded that street litter and discarded food is a major source of food for rats and other pests. In the article, Swan discussed the need for more urban ecology studies and how the recent study like the one conducted in New York City could serve as an example of how such research could be performed in the future. “We… Continue Reading Christopher Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, in the New York Times

UMBC Featured in The Baltimore Sun’s Special Section on Education

Sep 8, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

The Shriver Center’s Governor’s Summer Internship Program (GSIP) and the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems’ Costa Rica Field Course were featured in The Baltimore Sun‘s September special section on education. Collin Wojciechowski ’13, political science and media and communication studies, and Michele Wolff, Director of The Shriver Center, were quoted in an article focusing on a hands-on approach to learning politics and government. Wojciechowski, who is currently special assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff in Governor Martin O’Malley’s office, said part of his experience that led to his job came thanks to GSIP: “It gives you a chance to directly shadow… Continue Reading UMBC Featured in The Baltimore Sun’s Special Section on Education

Erle Ellis: Nature

Aug 3, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

Erle Ellis, Geography and Environmental Systems, was recently quoted in the Nature article written by Virginia Gewin, Science and politics: Hello, Governor. “Although there is little disagreement that abrupt shifts occur in Earth systems, including climate and the composition of ecosystems, some scientists baulk at the suggestion that there is enough evidence to predict a single tipping point for the whole planet. “I thought it was a great review of the evidence for rapid shifts in ecology, but then it switched to a series of unsupported statements — at best a hypothesis — about how a global tipping point in the… Continue Reading Erle Ellis: Nature

Erle Ellis, GES, on WPR and Die Zeit

Apr 9, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Erle Ellis, geography and information systems, recently discussed how humans are changing the planet with Wisconsin Public Radio and Die Zeit. Ellis explains the idea of the Anthropocene, a term that signifies a new geological epoch where humans significantly impact the earth’s systems. He says, “It’s out of date to see the earth as a natural ecosystem that is disturbed by people. Rather, the earth has become a human system with embedded natural ecosystems.” Click here to listen to “The Future Of Humans’ Transformation Of The Planet” on Wisconsin Public Radio. Read “Planet of the People” on Die Zeit by… Continue Reading Erle Ellis, GES, on WPR and Die Zeit

Matthew Baker, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Washington Post

Mar 14, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Earlier this month, the Montgomery County Council tentatively agreed to new limits on construction in Clarksburg’s Ten Mile Creek watershed. The straw vote of 9 to 0 came in the midst of contentious debate over the future of economic development in the county’s northern edge. Matthew Baker, an associate professor of geography and environmental systems, was mentioned in the article for previous information he had provided to the council: “[Baker] told the council on Feb. 11 that streams in excellent health, such as Ten Mile, are especially sensitive to even tiny environmental changes. By the same token, portions of the… Continue Reading Matthew Baker, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Washington Post

Dawn Biehler, Geography and Environmental Systems, on WHYY Philadelphia

Jan 24, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Entomologists believe bed bugs have started making a comeback in places like Philadelphia in recent years. A report that aired on WHYY in Philadelphia January 17 examines the city’s battle with bedbugs and how it has evolved. Dawn Biehler, assistant professor of geography and environmental systems, was interviewed for the story and commented on the history of bedbugs in the United States and how they appeared consistently up until the 40s and 50s. “It was almost kind of an accepted condition of urban life that every once in a while, you were going to get bedbugs,” Biehler said. “Some people had… Continue Reading Dawn Biehler, Geography and Environmental Systems, on WHYY Philadelphia

Andrew Miller, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Baltimore Sun

Oct 11, 2013 / 1 minute of reading

A project to build a $400 million gambling complex that will be home to a casino on Baltimore’s Russell Street is moving forward. Construction wasn’t allowed on the piece of land until last year due to the risk of flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the property was in an area that was particularly prone to flooding, but the city paid a consulting firm to re-evaluate the land and file an appeal. As a result, a new federal map was drawn and construction was allowed to move forward. In an article in The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, Geography and Environmental Systems… Continue Reading Andrew Miller, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Baltimore Sun

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