2010 TAA Conference on Text and Academic Authoring

Ramada Mall of America Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 24-26, 2010

General Session:

Robert Christopherson

GeoPrimer—Great Plains and Texas Crossroad

Day/Time: Friday, 9 - 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Robert Christopherson, Professor Emeritus of Geography, American River College (1970-2000), and author of the leading physical geography texts in the US and Canada

A regional and place geography. An important geographic theme is that of "place." No two places are identical and each is unique. San Antonio is at a crossroads, a point of convergence in geography and history; a richness of cultural heritage. We see the physical setting in the southern Great Plains (precipitation, air pressure, temperatures, weather and climate, and landscape). The challeneges to settlement posed by dryness, vast distances, depth of water tables, the Native American population, lack of fence building and construction materials, and the Eastern mindset extended and tested in a new landscape. Also, the human and cultural response and overview. A brief mention of the regional environmental topics such as San Antonio's changing climate this century, water, and growth issues.

About the Presenter:

Robert W. Christopherson is Professor Emeritus of Geography, American River College (1970-2000). He was selected by American River College students as "Teacher of the Year" and received the ARC Patrons Award. He is the author of the leading physical geography texts in the US and Canada all published by Pearson Prentice Hall: He and his nature photographer wife Bobbe have completed nine expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions since 2003 gathering information and photos for his books: Geosystems, 7/e, © 2009 [Texty winner 1998]; Elemental Geosystems, 5/e, © 2007 [Texty winner 2005]; Geosystems Canadian Edition, 2/e, © 2009; and Applied Geography, 7/e, © 2009. He attended Cal State University-Chico, and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. His first textbook was published in 1992. His textbooks have received several national textbook awards. Also, he was recognized for excellence in teaching with the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education and the Outstanding Educator Award from the California Geographical Society in 1997. TAA presented him with its Presidents' Award in 2005. He has spoken across the US and Canada to hundreds of colleges, groups, and professional meetings.