Thinking Spatially

In the May 2026 Thinking Spatially podcast, again highlighting a Place, Thought Leader, Tool, Event, and Geographic Oddity, we will focus on:   The Midwest, Cartographer Louise E Jefferson, 3D mapping, the 1884 Meridian Conference, and Loving County, Texas.   Pecos River crossing at Loving County, Texas.  Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.

In the April 2026 Thinking Spatially podcast, again focusing on a Place, Thought Leader, Tool, Event, and Geographic Oddity, we will focus on:  Microstates, James Rattling Leaf, UAVs (Unmanned or Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, or Drones) in GIS and remote sensing, Earth Day and GIS Day, and the complexities of a section of the Netherlands-Belgium border. UAVs or Drones

In the March 2026 Thinking Spatially podcast, again focusing on a Place, Thought Leader, Tool, Event, and Geographic Oddity, we will focus on:  Two famous and beautiful trails (Cinque Terra Italy and Saxer Lucke Switzerland), scientific and geographic pioneer Gladys West, GPS, The Rights of Nature movement, and national and state borders along latitude and longitude lines. Gladys West Gladys West, science and geographic pioneer.

In the February 2026 Thinking Spatially podcast, we will again highlight a Place, Thought Leader, Tool, Event, Geographic Oddity:  This month we will focus on the distinction between Place vs Space in geography, Dr Yi-Fu Tuan and the concept of Topophilia, Remote Sensing, Mapping Cholera in 1854, and the concept of and importance of Null Island. Landsat Imagery

A place, thought leader, tool, event, and geographic oddity: January 2026 podcast in the Thinking Spatially series. This month I feature:  The shortness of the Alabama coastline, Eratosthenes' Earth Measurement, GIS as a tool, the Earthrise 1968 photo, and the northernmost, easternmost, southernmost, and westernmost points of land in the USA.  Enjoy! Joseph Kerski at GIS lighted sign

This episode investigates Mt Vesuvius: Natural Hazards Analysis, past and present, and its impact on geographic studies. Mt Vesuvius:  Public Domain

This episode discusses how geography is defined, exploring its traditions, themes, and standards. Defining Geography

This episode investigates how photography impacted the study of the Earth and how geographers in turn impacted and used photography.   Photography: Photograph by Joseph Kerski, Idaho-Washington USA border.

This episode discusses Bernhardus Varenius and the impact that the first modern geography textbook had on the past and present.  Varenius: Geographia generalis, 1715

This episode discusses Sebastian Munster's contribution to geography:  Describing the Heavens and Earth in Cosmographia.  Munster mapTabula Novarum Insularum, 1540: Public Domain.

This episode discusses how urbanization has impacted planet Earth and how geographers study urbanization.  Urbanization: Phoenix AZ USA:   Photograph by Joseph Kerski.

This episode discusses Thomas Robert Malthus: Forecasting the future through Demography.   Thomas Malthus

This episode investigates Time: How it is embedded in geography, and how standardization and time zones impacted our world.  Time:  Its impact on geography, how it is studies, and on our everyday lives.  Photo by Joseph Kerski.

This episode discusses UAVs: Unmanned or Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, or Drones, and their impact on geography and geotechnologies.  UAVs or Drones:  Photograph by Joseph Kerski.

This episode investigates The Treaty of Tordesillas and Its Impact on Exploration and Settlement, Past and Present. the Treaty of Tordesillas

Why use childhood memory maps to foster spatial thinking?  This episode discusses how and why to use this powerful and easily implementable activity across a wide ranges of educational levels and courses.  Childhood Memory Maps

This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast examines the life, exploration, and impact that Alexander Von Humboldt had on sciences, with an emphasis on geography.  Alexander Von Humboldt

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. Surveying: Photo by Joseph Kerski, in Colorado.

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. Universalis Cosmographia: Waldseemullers America and the World

This podcast delves into regional studies, their geographic foundations, and their impact.  Regional Studies:  Photo by Joseph Kerski, in Iowa.

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.  Posidonius

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.  Mercator

This podcast defines and explains the concept of topophilia--that we as humans are fundamentally attached to place, and why it matters.  Topophilia: Place Matters!  Photo in Indiana by Joseph Kerski.

This podcast discusses the cartographic and geographic advances of Pei Xiu in China from 224 to 271 AD or CE. Map on Silk from China.

This episode of the Thinking Spatially podcast discusses the geographic implications of observatories from ancient times to our modern times.  The geographic implications of observatories.

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. Magellan Geographic Impact:  Photo by Joseph Kerski

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. Proximity and Adjacency

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 rarely but rather interestingly along full degree lines of latitude and longitude.   The Indiana-Ohio boundary

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.  Northwest Ordinance:  Photo of section line road in Iowa, by Joseph Kerski.

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 Earths Magnetic Field:  Section of USGS topographic map.

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. Columbus

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 more. The French Geodesic Mission:  Photo of land meeting the sea, by Joseph Kerski.

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, to the present day. Lewis and Clark:  This is Pompey's Pillar in Montana, photo by Joseph Kerski.

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 Earth from Space

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. Brunel

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. Aryabhata

This episode in the Thinking Spatially podcast series discusses the environmental movement:  How it began, what it is, and its impact on geographic thinking. Environmental Movement

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. GeoEthics

Antarctica: To the End of Earth:  This podcast describes the exploration of Antarctica and its impact on science and on geographic thinking. Antarctica

This episode describes the life and discoveries of Al-Biruni, who laid the geodetic foundations for what we understand about the Earth. Al-Biruni

Join me for a chat about:  Spatial Citizenship Education: What it is and why it matters.   Spatial Citizenship Education

Join me as we discuss the life, exploration, and impact that Marco Polo's journey from Italy to China and back again had.  Structure along the silk road.

Join me as we discuss the 10 most important educational benefits that GIS (Geographic Information Systems) offers.  10 most important educational benefits to GIS

Join me as we discuss the life and impact of David Livingstone of the 19th Century:  A European with a heart for Africa. David Livingstone

Join me as we discuss what is Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and why teach with this important framework, data sets, and tools? geotechnologies image

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.  Pliny Encyclopedia reprint

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.  10 key strategies for teaching GIS

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 how we understand our world.

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. Joseph Kerski at Colorado College.

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.   Humans as change agents