Thinking Spatially

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Why does thinking spatially and geographically still matter in our 21st Century world? Join geographer Joseph Kerski as we explore natural hazards, population trends, biodiversity, energy, water, and other important issues, how geotechnologies and maps can serve as tools for investigation, and dig…

Joseph Kerski


    • Dec 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 12m AVG DURATION
    • 71 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Thinking Spatially

    Surveying: Measuring the Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 13:21


    This episode focuses on surveying, and how measuring the Earth was important through ancient times to our modern times, with an emphasis on the geographic implications.   The post Surveying: Measuring the Earth appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Universalis Cosmographia: Waldseemullers America and the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 11:49


    This episode investigates Universalis Cosmographia: Waldseemuller's map showing America and the World, and the impact it had on its time in 1507 and on to today's modern web maps. The post Universalis Cosmographia: Waldseemullers America and the World appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Regional Studies: Investigating the Diversity of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 12:29


    This podcast delves into regional studies, their geographic foundations, and their impact.  The post Regional Studies: Investigating the Diversity of the World appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Posidonius: Uniting Geography with Science and Philosophy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024 9:53


    This podcast episode focuses on Posidonius, who untied geography with science and philosophy, and the impact it had on thought in his time (135-51 BC) and thereafter.    The post Posidonius: Uniting Geography with Science and Philosophy appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Roads, Ports, and Railroads: Connecting the Planet

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 14:03


    This podcast episode focuses on Roads, Ports, and Railroads, how they connect the Planet, and their geographic implications.   The post Roads, Ports, and Railroads: Connecting the Planet appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Mercator: Mapping the World in a New Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 13:39


    This podcast focuses on the life and work of Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594), who mapped the world in a new way, and the geographic implications of his life and work.    The post Mercator: Mapping the World in a New Way appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Topophilia: Affinity to Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 15:36


    This podcast defines and explains the concept of topophilia–that we as humans are fundamentally attached to place, and why it matters.  The post Topophilia: Affinity to Place appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Pei Xiu: Advancing Cartography in China

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 10:58


    This podcast discusses the cartographic and geographic advances of Pei Xiu in China from 224 to 271 AD or CE. The post Pei Xiu: Advancing Cartography in China appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Observatories: Monitors of the Earth and Beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 11:41


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast discusses the geographic implications of observatories from ancient times to our modern times.  The post Observatories: Monitors of the Earth and Beyond appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Magellan: Launching Global Exploration

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 14:25


    This podcast focuses on Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) and the impact his 1519-1521 voyage had on geography, cartography, exploration, and much more, during its time and down to our present age. The post Magellan: Launching Global Exploration appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Proximity and Adjacency: Why they matter, and how to teach them through mathematics, maps, and geography

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 17:01


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially Podcast focuses on the concepts of Proximity and Adjacency: Why they matter, and how to teach them through mathematics, maps, and geography. The post Proximity and Adjacency: Why they matter, and how to teach them through mathematics, maps, and geography appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Political Boundaries along Lines of Latitude and Longitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 14:38


    The podcast Political Boundaries along lines of latitude and longitude explores the geographic implications of the history and development of political boundaries, why they matter, and which political boundaries are […] The post Political Boundaries along Lines of Latitude and Longitude appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Northwest Ordinance Act: Surveying and Settling the Land

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 11:30


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast examines how the Northwest Ordinance Act in the USA impacted surveying and settling of the land, geographic thought, and geotechnologies.  The post Northwest Ordinance Act: Surveying and Settling the Land appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    The Earths Magnetic Field: Impacting Geography from the Ground Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 10:34


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast explores how the investigation and discovery of the Earth's magnetic field influenced geography and our everyday lives. The post The Earths Magnetic Field: Impacting Geography from the Ground Up appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Columbus: Permanently Altering Global Relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2023 12:34


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast focuses on the controversial figure of Columbus and how his exploration and voyages permanently Altered Global Relationships to the present day. The post Columbus: Permanently Altering Global Relationships appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    The French Geodesic Mission: 1 degree of Latitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 11:49


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast examines the French Geodesic Mission of 1730 and its impact on our understanding of the Earth, including elements of geotechnologies, political geography, and […] The post The French Geodesic Mission: 1 degree of Latitude appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Lewis and Clark: Researching, Mapping, and Exploring to the Coast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 12:04


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast focuses on the impact that Lewis and Clark had on geographic tools, geographic thinking, settlement patterns, the relationship to Native Americans, and more, […] The post Lewis and Clark: Researching, Mapping, and Exploring to the Coast appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    The Earth in Space: Seeing the World as it Truly Is

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2023 12:14


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast focuses on how space exploration helped us understand our own Earth and how it influenced geographic thinking. The post The Earth in Space: Seeing the World as it Truly Is appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Brunel: Modifying the Landscape in the Industrial Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 9:12


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast focuses on Brunel and how his work led to the modification of the Landscape in the Industrial Revolution and to the present day. The post Brunel: Modifying the Landscape in the Industrial Revolution appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Aryabhata and Brahmagupta: Using Mathematics to Explain Geography

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 11:54


    This episode in the Thinking Spatially podcast series focuses on Indian mathematicians Aryabhata and Brahmagupta:  How their advancements in Mathematics greatly aided the discipline of Geography and geographic technology. The post Aryabhata and Brahmagupta: Using Mathematics to Explain Geography appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    The Environmental Movement: Connecting Geography to a Higher Purpose

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 13:00


    This episode in the Thinking Spatially podcast series discusses the environmental movement:  How it began, what it is, and its impact on geographic thinking. The post The Environmental Movement: Connecting Geography to a Higher Purpose appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Teaching GeoEthics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 15:11


    This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast series describes why ethics is central to work in geography and mapping, and discusses strategies on how and why to teach geo-ethics. The post Teaching GeoEthics appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Antarctica: To the End of Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 14:54


    Antarctica: To the End of Earth:  This podcast describes the exploration of Antarctica and its impact on science and on geographic thinking. The post Antarctica: To the End of Earth appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Al Biruni: Laying the Geodetic Foundations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 10:38


    This episode describes the life and discoveries of Al-Biruni, who laid the geodetic foundations for what we understand about the Earth. The post Al Biruni: Laying the Geodetic Foundations appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Spatial Citizenship Education: What it is and why it matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 22:26


    Join me for a chat about:  Spatial Citizenship Education: What it is and why it matters.   The post Spatial Citizenship Education: What it is and why it matters appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    spatial geographers citizenship education
    Marco Polo: From West to East and Back Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 10:39


    Join me as we discuss the life, exploration, and impact that Marco Polo's journey from Italy to China and back again had.    The post Marco Polo: From West to East and Back Again appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    What are the 10 most important educational benefits to GIS?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 16:16


    Join me as we discuss the 10 most important educational benefits that GIS (Geographic Information Systems) offers.  The post What are the 10 most important educational benefits to GIS? appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    benefits educational gis geographers gis geographic information systems
    David Livingstone: A European with a Heart for Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 8:18


    Join me as we discuss the life and impact of David Livingstone of the 19th Century:  A European with a heart for Africa. The post David Livingstone: A European with a Heart for Africa appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    What is GIS and why teach with it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 22:52


    Join me as we discuss what is Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and why teach with this important framework, data sets, and tools? The post What is GIS and why teach with it? appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Pliny the Elder: Creating the First Encyclopedia of Geography

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 10:30


    Join me as we discuss the amazing feat of Pliny the Elder's encyclopedia, his life, his spectacular death, and the impact his work had.  The post Pliny the Elder: Creating the First Encyclopedia of Geography appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    What are the 10 key strategies for teaching GIS?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 18:50


    Join me as we discuss the 10 key strategies for teaching GIS–Geographic Information Systems.  Many choices exist, and this chat will help you navigate those choices and make informed ones.  The post What are the 10 key strategies for teaching GIS? appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    strategy teaching gis key strategies geographers gis geographic information systems
    Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 13:40


    Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above.  Think spatially as we examine the development and influence that aerial photography has had since the mid 19th Century, and its impact on […] The post Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    On becoming a GISP GIS Professional

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 5:16


    My story of becoming a GISP – a GIS professional as certified by the GIS Certification Institute, and why you should consider becoming one as well. The post On becoming a GISP GIS Professional appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    George Perkins Marsh: Humans as Change Agents

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 10:43


    Join me as we chat about George Perkins Marsh, who pioneered the concept of humans as change agents:  His life and legacy, and why it all matters.   The post George Perkins Marsh: Humans as Change Agents appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    What are the 10 most important GIS skills in education?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 9:14


    Let's chat about the 10 most important GIS (Geographic Information Systems) skills to focus on and foster in education. I contend that if you and your students gain confidence in […] The post What are the 10 most important GIS skills in education? appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    education skills gis geographers gis geographic information systems
    Leif Eriksson: Visiting North America in 1001

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2022 10:06


    Lets chat about Leif Eriksson's life, voyages to North America and elsewhere, and the impact it all had on exploration, history, and geography. The post Leif Eriksson: Visiting North America in 1001 appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Copernicus: Establishing correct Earth-Sun Relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 11:16


    Copernicus: Establishing correct Earth-Sun Relationships.  Think spatially as we examine Copernicus' life and impact, and why it matters on down to today. The post Copernicus: Establishing correct Earth-Sun Relationships appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Cross-staffs, astrolabes, and other devices: Determining Positions on the Planet

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 12:58


    Cross-staffs, astrolabes, and other devices: Determining Positions on the Planet, and paving the way for GPS.  Think spatially as we consider these devices, how they were used, and the impact […] The post Cross-staffs, astrolabes, and other devices: Determining Positions on the Planet appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Smith: Breaking New Ground with Stratigraphy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 12:16


    Smith: Breaking New Ground with Stratigraphy:  Think spatially on the life and impact of William Smith, creator of the world's first modern geologic map. The post Smith: Breaking New Ground with Stratigraphy appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    10 Useful and Amazing Web Mapping Applications

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 33:59


    Think spatially as we examine 10 amazing web mapping applications that I have used in a wide variety of research and teaching settings, and you can do the same, including […] The post 10 Useful and Amazing Web Mapping Applications appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Harrison: Solving the Longitude Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 11:34


    Harrison: Solving the Longitude Problem:  Think spatially as we examine how the hard work, tenacity, and innovations of John Harrison's longitude clock transformed the world and our understanding of it.  The post Harrison: Solving the Longitude Problem appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    National Mapping Agencies: Mapping the Nations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 12:17


    National Mapping Agencies: Mapping the Nations:  Think spatially as you consider the history and mission of national mapping agencies around the world, and the impact they had and continue to […] The post National Mapping Agencies: Mapping the Nations appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Zheng He: Sailing from East to West

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 11:28


    Zheng He: Sailing from East to West:  Think spatially as you consider the life and voyages of Zheng He of China and the impact they made.  The post Zheng He: Sailing from East to West appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Wegener: On Solid Ground? Not so much.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2021 12:21


    Think spatially as we examine the life, theories, and challenges faced by Alfred Wegener, and his influence through plate tectonics on how we understand our planet.  The post Wegener: On Solid Ground? Not so much. appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Eratosthenes: Calculating the Earth’s Circumference

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 11:05


    Eratosthenes: Calculating the Earth’s Circumference:  Think spatially as we examine the work and influence that Eratosthenes had on our understanding of the planet’s size, and much more. The post Eratosthenes: Calculating the Earth’s Circumference appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Burnham: Make no Small Plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 10:59


    Think spatially as we examine the life and influence of architect Daniel Burnham, and the impact his ideas had on buildings and cities.  The post Burnham: Make no Small Plans appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 13:40


    Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above.  Think spatially as we examine the development and influence that aerial photography has had since the mid 19th Century, and its impact on […] The post Aerial Photography: Examining the Earth from Above appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Geoliteracy: What it is, Why it Matters, and where it needs to be taught

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 11:30


    Think spatially as we examine geoliteracy:  What it is, why it matters, and where it needs to be taught.    The post Geoliteracy: What it is, Why it Matters, and where it needs to be taught appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Al-Idrisi: Pleasant Journeys into Faraway Lands and the amazing Silver Map

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 10:59


    Discover the amazing map of silver and the extensive exploration and writing of cartographer al-Idrisi (c. 1099-1166).   The post Al-Idrisi: Pleasant Journeys into Faraway Lands and the amazing Silver Map appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Bridges and Tunnels: Connecting Spaces, Joining Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 11:05


    Discover how thousands of years of building bridges and tunnels did not simply join opposite shores or sides of mountains, but united regions politically and economically, and even culturally.  The post Bridges and Tunnels: Connecting Spaces, Joining Places appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

    Anaximander: The First Map of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 9:22


    Learn why Anaximander’s first map of the world was so revolutionary, and how this Greek philosopher’s thinking shaped our modern conception of the Earth and of space.  The post Anaximander: The First Map of the World appeared first on Joseph Kerski, Ph.D. - Geographer.

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