Faculty Kudos

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This page contains links to information about USC Department of Geography faculty members who have received special recognition for their professional work. Please follow these links and help us applaud our very deserving faculty members.
 

Dr. Diansheng Guo has received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award for 2008, which will fund his research over a 5-year period (2008-2013). His award-winning research project will develop new computational and visual approaches to discover and understand complex information in very large spatial interaction data sets such as the geographic movements of humans, diseases, and commodities. The project is jointly funded by the Geography and Regional Science Program and the Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics Program of the National Science Foundation.

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Dr. Nancy von Meyer was presented with the prestigious Horwood Distinguished Service Award at the 45th Annual URISA Conference in Washington, DC this fall. The Horwood Award is URISA's highest awared for service and leadership to URISA and the geospatial industry. To read more about the award, visit URISA's website http://www.urisa.org/node/947.

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Dr. John Jensen was presented with the prestigious William T. Pecora award at the Fall meeting of MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors) and ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing). The Pecora Award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth through the use of remote sensing. To learn more about the award, visit the website http://remotesensing.usgs.gov/pecora.html

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Dr. Susan Cutter honored with a Decade of Behavior Research Award

The Decade of Behavior, an initiative supported by more than 50 national and international professional and scientific organizations has named Susan Cutter a recipient of one of its 2006 awards. The Decade of Behavior Research Award recognizes high caliber research that has had a demonstrated impact on policy or society at large, has contributed to the use of social and behavioral science knowledge in policy settings, or has enhanced public understanding of behavioral or social science principles.

When announcing this prestigious award that is given to no more than five individuals each year, Steven J. Breckler, Ph.D. Executive Director for Science, of the American Psychological Association stated:

"The National Advisory Committee was eager to grant this award to such a talented scientist whose research on safety issues has contributed to the use of social and behavioral science knowledge in policy settings and has enhanced public understanding of behavioral and social science principles. Your research truly reflects the goals of the Decade of Behavior, and in particular this year's focus on Safety."

The Decade of Behavior (2000-2010) is a multidisciplinary initiative to focus the talents, energy, and creativity of the behavioral and social sciences on meeting many of society’s most significant challenges. These include improving education and health care; enhancing safety in homes and communities; actively addressing the needs of an aging population; and helping to curb drug abuse, crime, high risk behaviors, poverty, racism, and cynicism towards government. The beginning of the twenty-first century is the ideal time to highlight how insight into behavior will help meet these national challenges, and behavioral and social scientists are encouraged to bring their research results forward to help inform the public and the public policy process about the Decade's five major themes:

• Improving health
• Increasing safety
• Improving education
• Increasing prosperity
• Promoting democracy

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Dr. William Graf Recognized for River Policy Work

William L. Graf, Foundation University Professor and Professor of Geography, has received his profession’s highest award for environmental public policy contributions. Graf received the Meredith F. Burrill Award on March 11, 2006, at the national meeting of the Association of American Geographers.

The award recognizes Graf’s work as chair of a National Research Council committee to advise federal and state governments on water resource issues and research associated with the Platte River of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The award applauds Graf’s skill in the application of basic geographic research in the resolution of environmental issues in public policy. The National Research Council is an independent body of scientists who advise the federal government on matters related to the application of science to public policy.

The award also recognizes the book-length report by Graf and the committee that evaluates the science used by federal river managers in their efforts to balance the needs of endangered species and regional agriculture which relies on the river for water. The river is nationally important because it hosts four threatened and endangered species, including whooping cranes.

Graf is a geographer whose specialty is the investigation of river processes and wildlife habitat. He is also a government advisor regarding the combination of science and decision-making to resolve conflicts over competing uses of public water and land. His research involves rivers throughout the nation, including the Congaree River in South Carolina.

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Dr. John J. Winberry Honored for Service to LASP.

In January the Latin American Studies Program announced the establishment of the annual John J. Winberry Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award in Latin American , Latino/a and Caribbean Studies. The award will be presented to an undergraduate each spring.

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Dr. John R. Jensen (center) receiving the Estes Award from ASPRS President Don Lauer, and Ed Gibson, SAIC.

John R. Jensen receives the Estes Memorial Teaching Award. Follow this link to read about the award.

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