News

Geography Professor Erin Potter chosen as the 2023-2024 recipient of The Bernard Vonnegut Award.

Erin Potter was given this award for her "demonstrated exemplary teaching dedication, both inside and outside the classroom. The level of your dedication to teaching excellence is entirely consistent with the recognized instructional legacy of Professor Vonnegut."

Geography Student Wins President's Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence

Zhanchao yang was honored on Monday, 4/29, with President Harvey Stenger and Provest Hall. See below for a statement from Zhanchao:

I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as an honorable mention for the President's Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence. I am proud to attend the Award Ceremony on Monday, 4/29, with President Harvey Stenger and Provest Hall.

Four years ago, a global pandemic prevented me from physically attending Binghamton University to pursue a bachelor's degree. Despite this, online teaching connected me with Dr. Mark Reisinger by chance. His “world regional geography” classes ignited my passion for geography. One year later, I was fortunate enough to be on campus, interacting with inspiring faculty and collaborating with talented peers. Dr. Jay Newberry and Dr. Wan Yu have consistently offered support and guidance, motivating me to explore research in drone and qualitative methods. Dr. Thomas Pingel weekly lab meetings offered structured mentorship, enabling me to develop my thesis step by step in the field of near-earth imaging. Eventually, I presented my research thesis at an international-level geographer conference, where it was recognized by scholars and professionals in geography. 

Thank you so much to everyone in the geography department and the External Scholarship and Undergraduate Research Center-- Director Stephen Ortiz and Dr. Beth Polzin for your continued support. Many, many friends, campus departments, and offices support my four-year journey in Binghamton. I greatly appreciate all your help along the way. Without your consistent support, I would not stand where I am today. I am proud to say that my four-year studies at Binghamton University have laid a solid foundation for me in the fields I am passionate about. As I move forward, I will carry the Binghamton excellence into my life. I am committed to becoming a powerful positive change agent in our world. 

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) Induction Ceremony: Spring 2024

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international honor society in geography. Gamma Theta Upsilon was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. GTU chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness. For more Information click here.

Professor Jay Newberry flies UAV's on campus with students from his GEOG 482H Transportation Geography and Planning class.

Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence given to Geography Undergraduate Student Zhanchao Yang

We are thrilled to announce that Binghamton University's Geography undergraduate student, Zhanchao Yang, has been honored with the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. Zhanchao  received this honor at the 2024 Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Albany Capital Center in downtown Albany, NY.

This award recognizes Zhanchao's exceptional achievements, reflecting the embodiment of SUNY excellence across various facets of academic, leadership, campus involvement, community service, and the arts.

Zhanchao's dedication and contributions have not only enriched the university community but also inspired peers and faculty alike. Their commitment to excellence serves as a shining example of the impact that students can make within and beyond the academic realm.

Join us in extending our heartfelt congratulations to Zhanchao Yang, a very deserving recipient of this esteemed award!

Ryan Kinsella, a graduate student in the Geography Department and intern with the Office of Emergency Management, developed a series of interactive public safety maps to provide easily accessible information to limit confusion during crises.

Binghamton graduate student creates public safety maps to help campus community: Office of Emergency Management internship leads to new mapping system

In dire situations, it is important to know where safety resources like blue lights, police stations and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are located across Binghamton University’s multiple campuses. Thanks to the work of Ryan Kinsella, this kind of information is easier to access than ever before.

A graduate student in the Geography Department, Kinsella has developed a series of interactive public safety maps to provide easily accessible information to limit confusion during crises.

Kinsella began an internship program with the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in fall 2023. Prior to his internship, in an interview with executive director Dave Hubeny, the concept of these geographic information systems (GIS) maps was brought up.

“They had this idea in the works, but they never really had the resources to produce it,” Kinsella said. “So I was happy to offer those resources and work with them.”

Kinsella, who received his undergraduate degree in geography at Binghamton University, worked on the project for a few months before it was launched live in November 2023. Cllick to read more.

Geography Professor Thomas Pingel receives a grant for his work pertaining to the urban heat island effect

Walk through a city on a hot summer day, and you can sometimes see the heat rise from the pavement, a shimmering distortion in the air.

Cities really are hotter than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect, first observed in London during the 1800s, explained Binghamton University Associate Professor of Geography Thomas Pingel. The buildings, parking lots and sidewalks absorb heat during the day, releasing it during the night.

This excess heat is more than just an annoyance; it can kill.

“With climate change, not only is the earth warming, but cities are warming at a faster rate than the earth is, so it becomes a particularly salient problem,” Pingel said. “Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the United States.” Click to Read More

Geography Professor Thomas J. Pingel Wins PIX4Dcatch RTK Grant!

Innovative project showcase Pix4D technology in academic research.

Bringing his expertise in 3D reconstruction, Associate Professor Thomas J. Pingel wishes to facilitate urban renewal. The project explores how new construction can take urban structures and green spaces into consideration with respect to heat, to create more livable communities. He would like to explore the PIX4Dcatch RTK workflow paired with a thermal camera, to create high-resolution thermal NeRFs. Pingel is eager to extend this work using Pix4D’s revolutionary OPF. He wishes to utilize its connection to the NVIDIA NeRF pipeline, as the Pix4D ecosystem enables the maximization of 3D reconstruction while offering greater operator influence compared to other NeRF approaches.

Missing in Action: Geography Professor Thomas Pingel's Research in Guadalcanal Aims to Bring Servicemen Home to the U.S.

Remote and tropical, its ridges shrouded by dense trees, Guadalcanal was once known as the “Island of Death” by the Japanese. A brutal seven-month campaign during World War II claimed the lives of more than 19,000 Japanese and 7,100 American soldiers, with another 8,000 U.S. personnel wounded.

A trio of Binghamton University researchers is involved in a project to bring the last U.S. servicemen home. Anthropology Professor Carl Lipo, Associate Professor of Geography Thomas Pingel and geological sciences master’s student Colin Mulhern headed to the Solomon Islands this fall, in partnership with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

Records show that the bodies of 17 American servicemembers lost in the battle were never recovered, Lipo said. DPAA’s end goal is to bring their remains back to the United States for reinterment. (Continue Reading ...)

Binghamton Geography Masters in Urban Planning Graduate Merike Treier is now executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. She speaks here on leadership: Find your passion, ask the questions, ‘bring the positivity’

Spring 2022 Careers in Geography Speaker Series

The presenters will be:

• March 23 - Eric Lopez:  GIS Specialist for Cortland County
• April 13 - Zach Staff - Northeast Regional Aviation Planning Manager in the Binghamton, NY headquarters of McFarland Johnson
• April 27 - Isabel Oliveri:  GIS Officer for the Municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

All presentations will be from 12 Noon to 1:00 pm in OJ 101. Pizza will be served.

Door to China: Binghamton has its first Schwarzman Scholar in Geography MA student Micah Jump

After finishing her master’s degree in geography, Micah Jumpp’s next step will take her to the other side of the globe: Tsinghua University in Beijing, where she will be Binghamton University’s first Schwarzman Scholar.

A native of Fishkill, N.Y., currently finishing the 4+1 program, Jumpp has the unprecedented opportunity to participate in an elite master’s program in global affairs at a university considered the “Harvard of China.”

“After my phone call, I was relieved and consumed with extreme gratitude to God, family, friends, Schwarzman Scholars and the selection officer who conferenced with me, and the wealth of opportunities through Binghamton — the Black community, professors, past internships that directed my path, connections through networking, the External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center and the Fleishman Center for tirelessly pouring over multiple drafts of my application and mock interviews with me. And the former Chinese Confucius Institute and their professors, all of whom helped me see the true value of introspection and pushed me beyond normal limits,” she said. “It is an honor to be the first to represent Binghamton University in the program.”

It’s not the first time Jumpp has been to China: As an undergraduate, she enrolled in a course in Mandarin Chinese and prepared a song, speech and a rap in the language for the Chinese Bridge Language and Culture Competition, hosted by the University’s Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera. She earned a scholarship to spend the summer of 2019 in Beijing studying language and culture at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, where she even learned how to play a traditional Chinese zither known as the guzheng. - Click to Read More

Sara Zubalsky-Peer presents to a packed room as part of the 'Careers in Geography' speaker series on October 6, 2021. 

Sara Zubalsky-Peer presents to a packed room as part of the Careers in Geography speaker series on October 6, 2021. Sara spoke about 'What Planners Do', advised students on the skills they need to become planners, and how to tailor their resume's for specific positions.

Sara received her Binghamton University Geography MA in 2013. Sara is the Director of Planning & Development at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. a private not-for-profit organization part of a nation-wide network of Community Action Agencies. Her work focuses on planning of new or expanded community development initiatives, management of rehabilitation projects through grants and private investments, creation of comprehensive community growth and planning strategies, formation of social enterprises to meet community needs, and affordable housing development.
Prior to Sara's work at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. she was the Director of Planning & Community Development for the Town of Union and oversaw the management and administration of all planning and zoning for the town, creation and amendment of local laws, flood mitigation projects, and federal programming including the Community Development Block Grant, Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, and CARES Act funds.

Sara also teaches planning courses as an adjunct lecturer for the Binghamton University Department of Geography.

'Careers in Geography' Speaker Series Fall 2021

Map integrity: Professor Chengbin Deng explores ways to detect ‘deep fakes’ in geography

Professor Deng and fellow Researchers combined satellite images of Tacoma, Washington, with Seattle and Beijing to create a composite image, and then identified differences between the false and true images.

Can you trust the map on your smartphone, or the satellite image on your computer screen?

So far, yes, but it may only be a matter of time until the growing problem of “deep fakes” converges with geographical information science (GIS). Researchers such as Associate Professor of Geography Chengbin Deng are doing what they can to get ahead of the problem.

Deng and four colleagues — Bo Zhao and Yifan Sun at the University of Washington, and Shaozeng Zhang and Chunxue Xu at Oregon State University — co-authored a recent article in Cartography and Geographic Information Science that explores the problem. In “Deep fake geography? When geospatial data encounter Artificial Intelligence,” they explore how false satellite images could potentially be constructed and detected. News of the research has been picked up by countries around the world, including China, Japan, Germany and France.

“Honestly, we probably are the first to recognize this potential issue,” Deng said.

Geographic information science (GIS) underlays a whole host of applications, from national defense to autonomous cars, a technology that’s currently under development. Artificial intelligence has made a positive impact on the discipline through the development of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), which uses machine learning — or artificial intelligence (AI) — to extract and analyze geospatial data. But these same methods could potentially be used to fabricate GPS signals, fake locational information on social media posts, fabricate photographs of geographic environments and more. Read Full Article

Commencement 2021 profile: Micah Jumpp

Harpur College student thrives as geography scholar and community organizer

Micah Jumpp will receive a bachelor's degree in geography and return to Binghamton University to pursue her master's degree. Image Credit: Jonathan Cohen.

As a transfer student who discovered a new major, learned a foreign language, studied abroad and recently made a social impact at her former high school, Micah Jumpp understands the importance of being open to change.

“I never thought I would transfer or study Mandarin Chinese language here,” she said. “It’s good to always be open to new and novel experiences.”

Jumpp, a 22-year-old from Fishkill, N.Y., will receive her bachelor’s degree in geography this month and return to Binghamton University in the fall for a year to earn her master’s degree in the geography 4+1 program. (read more)

Mapping change: John Frazier receives the Harold Rose Award in Geography

COMMENCEMENT 2020 PROFILE: TYLER SPELLMAN - Geography and Urban Planning Major

It would take more than a spinal injury that sidelined his Division I soccer career during his freshman year to stop Tyler Spellman from achieving his goals.

From Melville, Long Island, Spellman came to Binghamton to play goalie for the Bearcats men’s soccer team but had to take a medical withdrawal after his first season of play. He spent most of the second semester of his freshman year at home, recuperating. “I didn’t want to risk my life with what was going on. I just wanted to get better,” Spellman said. “So, I went through a ton of medical issues for months, doctors and more doctors, injections and procedures, the whole nine yards. It was pretty scary, but I came out stronger. It needed time.”

Never healthier than now, Spellman recalled not even wanting to consider Binghamton when he was being recruited to play soccer, but his parents urged him to visit. “The second I stepped on campus I knew right away, this is meant for me,” he said. “This is where I was supposed to be.”

And he solidified his calling while on campus. While healing he realized that education was what he had always enjoyed. “Throughout high school, I always worked with kids,” he said. “It is just my passion. I was a counselor, a teacher’s assistant over the summers and it just resonated with me. I knew this was meant for me. Click to continue...

First Year Geography MA Students Cope with COVID-19 Crisis and Social Distancing

First Year MA Student Erik Amos and his secret formula to replicate the taste of 1977-era Doritos

The Department of Geography knows that a lot of students have had challenges adjusting to remote learning, and in the case of TAs, remote teaching. The Department has regularly reached out to students to check on their well-being since the transition to online classes directive was issued on March 16. A series of questions was recently sent to our graduate students seeking feedback on the challenges, if any, they experience as a result of SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus/COVID -19) including online learning, thesis research during social distancing, and in the case of TAs, teaching remotely. We include the responses of two first-year graduate students below.

Erik Amos

Since I'm new to this program, COVID has not (yet) explicitly disrupted my data collection or timeline. I don't yet have a thesis title, set topic, or advisor.
I have not moved (still at home, here in Ithaca). All that said, it did affect me in a number of ways. My family (wife - teaching, and daughter - student) are also zooming for their classes. Bandwidth has been an issue. I am no longer commuting to anything (maybe you can relate?), nor is anyone else in the house. My work supporting the food coop is all done remotely now. I am observing A LOT more people walking and biking around (more on that below) here in suburbia. I am the cook in the house, and that has become more involved with pretty much all meals happening here. I don't bake per se, but I have dug out my thrift store bread machine. I have also come close to replicating the actual 1970's Doritos flavor.
Going forward, I am curious how this will impact courses I hope to take in the Fall (e.g. drones) and how I might support courses and faculty as a TA. I'm hoping to connect with some of the current TA's for help with that aspect. COVID has certainly affected plans for tackling certain topics, as I don't expect to travel overseas, or really even to other cities in the US until vaccines, treatment, and testing are developed and/or improved - which means probably not during the next year and a half. However, looking at active transportation and pedestrian spaces - which was and still is my primary interest - we are seeing massive shifts in what people do, how they get around, and how spaces are used - as well as how cities are officially allocating space. I don't feel like my topic has been made obsolete by recent events. In fact, I feel like it is more relevant than ever. However, the specific question is more up in the air, as are the methods for answering it. I hope to feel more certain about my research by the Fall.

Katie Bulger

I decided to stay in Binghamton rather than go back to Syracuse. I have a summer research position here so I’m concerned that I will not be able to do that and I’ll have to get a job in Binghamton, likely at a grocery store and put myself at risk. It has already affected me because my family was supposed to take a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest and the event was cancelled. 
I want to add that I think the University did a good job of responding quickly and made the transition to online as well as they could have. Online learning via Zoom isn’t a really big roadblock for me, but the lack of motivation and productivity from being at home is. I really hope we don’t continue online next semester but if that’s what we need to do to keep at risk students and faculty safe then I will stay at home as long as needed!

Geography Professor John Frazier Among 17 Binghamton University Employees Who Deserve Appreciation

In honor of National Employee Appreciation Day, we asked the Binghamton University community to nominate their favorite employees on campus. It could be a professor, a student employee, dining hall staff - anybody who stands out! We got an incredible number of responses, and it was hard to filter through them all. Here are a few of the nominees, with a little bit about what makes them so special. They all go above and beyond, and campus wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks to everyone who nominated someone!

 “From the first time I met Professor Frazier, I knew he cared deeply for his students. One of the first times I interacted with John was the day of the 2011 flood. He came into the classroom as I was reading and informed me campus was closing and to make sure I got home safely… After completing undergrad, John also went out of his way to help me obtain funding for grad school… Aside from him helping me personally, if you've met John you know he works hard to make sure all of his students take advantage of their time at Binghamton and will help them achieve their goals, no matter what.” - Stephanie Brewer

PUTTING COMMUNITY MEALS ON THE MAP
Geography graduate student Ben Levine turned asset mapping into a community resource

When Ben Levine, a first-year graduate student studying geography, began a tutoring internship as an undergraduate, he had no idea it would inspire an even larger project.

In his time at Binghamton University, Levine has been working on a number of local and upstate New York issues, such as food insecurity and environmental health. Originally from the St. Louis, Mo., area, Levine calls Binghamton his adopted home and his love for both the city and its people is reflected in his idea to create and distribute a map of free community meals for students and others facing food insecurity. (more)

Geography graduate student Ben Levine created an asset map that shows the locations of free meals in the local community. The map makes it easier for those suffering from food insecurity to access meals at no cost. Image Credit: Laura Guerrero.

Congratulations to Professor Mark Reisinger for receiving the 2018-2019 University Award for Excellence in International Education!

This award is a special honor that recognizes exemplary contributions to international education at Binghamton University.

Professor Mark Reisinger at the foot of Mount Huangshan in China. Often described as the “loveliest mountain of China”, Mount Huangshan has played an important role in the history of art and literature in China since the Tang Dynasty around the 8th century. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 for its scenery and for its role as a habitat for rare and threatened species.

The Binghamton University Geography Department's J. C. Redevelopment Team presents on Johnson City's resurgence at the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy - October 16, 2019

JOHNSON CITY (WBNG) — At the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy, a presentation was given on Johnson City’s resurgence.

Residents came out to hear what updates officials have on the area’s restoration and even learned a little about its history, demonstrating with state of the art technology.

Distinguished B.U. Geography professors John Frazier and Norah Henry were guest speakers. They shared with stakeholders how local businesses are doing. They say in the past few years, many new ones have sprouted up and vacant buildings are quickly being filled, which they say will eventually boost the economy.

“There are more eateries and other things. So those are going to change on Main street. But beyond Main street, Grand avenue, Floral, other parts of the village are gonna change as well,” said Frazier.

The pharmacy school’s dean shared the progress of the school. Along with its initiative to become a nationally renowned school, officials say it is increasing the village’s foot traffic and expect that to rise even more when it becomes fully accredited in 2021.

Binghamton University Department of Geography's annual Welcome Back Picnic - August 23, 2019

2019 GRADUATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS: Geography Graduate Student Recognized for SERVICE/OUTREACH

Frank Tolbert - Geography
Master's student Frank Tolbert's background in urban planning allowed him to develop a detailed understanding of issues affecting Broome County families. His research helped create reports for the county Department of Social Services, and his findings from the Johnson City Redevelopment Project were presented at the Race, Ethnicity, and Place ninth edition conference. Tolbert, a Clark Fellow, is also both a graduate research assistant and teaching assistant, as well as the president of the Geography Graduate Student Organization.

BU receives $30 million in state funding to complete Health Sciences Campus: Professor John Frazier, team leader for the Johnson City Revitalization Project, quoted in Pipe Dream article.

Binghamton University received $30 million from New York state to complete the Decker School of Nursing, which will be housed at 48 Corliss Ave. at the new Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City.

With an extra $30 million in funding from New York state, Binghamton University is on its way to completing the Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City.

The funding, which will help complete the Decker School of Nursing relocation at 48 Corliss Ave., is part of the Southern Tier Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) that was created by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2015.

Read more here

JC Presentation to NYC Alumni at Princeton Club

Professors John Frazier (pictured right) and Norah Henry, Department of Geography, presented "The Revitalization of Johnson City: Monitoring Attitudes and Patterns of a Changing Community" to the New York City Alumni Association on January 25th at the Princeton Club in Manhattan. Approximately 20 alumni attended the presentation.

Geography Visiting Professor Laura Pangallozzi Takes Part in Water Quality Forum

In 2017, Binghamton's water system served 1,263,688,404 gallons of water to 44,564 people, according to the city's official website. Now, students are starting discussions on whether this water is as clean as it should be.

A panel of five speakers, each experts of different aspects of local environmentalism, took part in a discussion about Broome County's water systems on ... (read more)

Professor Laura Pangallozzi (second from left) serves as an environmental expert at a panel discussion to educate the community on local water safety, The forum was hosted by Binghamton University's chapter of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).

Professor John Frazier Receives Provost's Award For Faculty Excellence In Undergraduate Research Mentoring

The Provost's Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring honors Binghamton University faculty who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment as mentors of Binghamton's undergraduate students in research, scholarship or creative activities outside of normal course assignments. Congratulations to John Frazier!

Geography Professor John Frazier receives the Provost's Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring from Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger at the Excellence Awards Dinner on October 9, 2018.

Geography Students Recognized for Research

Binghamton University Geography students Frank Tolbert and Winnie Ngare received 2nd Place (Frank) and Honorable Mention (Winnie) at the Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference Poster Competition in Austin, Texas. A big congratulations to Frank and Winnie, both second year MA students who were in competition with PhD students!

 View Frank Tolbert's poster

View Winnie Ngare's poster

Professor Qiusheng Wu has U.S. Patent Approved

Geography Professor Qiusheng Wu's U.S. Patent Application been officially approved and issued on October 9, 2018. The patent is for a localized contour tree method for deriving geometric and topological properties of complex surface depressions based on high-resolution topographic data (click here for detailed description).

Congratulations Professor Wu!

Binghamton University Earns 2018 Top Ranking for Geography & Cartography Program

Binghamton University performed especially well in a recent ranking of geography & cartography degree programs. College Factual ranks programs offered by 4-year U.S. Colleges and Universities and has recently updated their 2018 rankings.

Binghamton University's geography & cartography program was ranked 23 out of 172 nationwide. This makes Binghamton University one of the top programs in the U.S. to study geography & cartography,

Binghamton Geography, and particularly emphasis on the applied side of the discipline, provided me with a strong foundation with which I developed my career. As my responsibilities shifted to focus on more strategic assessments of our portfolio, the common skill required has been the ability to analyze and interpret data. In an organization where more and more decisions are coming to rely on analytics, having these skills and approaching problems from a spatial perspective has been an asset. I am grateful to the Binghamton University Geography Department for helping me develop these skills.

- David McAleese, BA Class of 2004, MA Class of 2006, Vice President of Macy's Area Research

Binghamton University's geography & cartography program has also been ranked 3 out of 9 in the state of New York. This means the geography & cartography program at Binghamton University is in the top 5 in New York... CONTINUE

Professor Louisa Holmes' GEOG 481C/581F Urban Health and the Built Environment Class - Spring 2018

It is 'cookie time' after a long and productive semester.  Professor Holmes and her students spent the past 16 weeks examining local and regional domains of health and chronic disease, with specific attention to the ways in which urban neighborhood features combine with individual-level behaviors and social interaction to produce health and disease. They tackled issues such as urban planning and policy, social determinants, parks and green space, crime, residential segregation and health care access. Professor Holmes offers this course every year. Be sure to register early as the seats fill very quick!

GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT TO TRACK IMPACT OF PHARMACY SCHOOL ON JOHNSON CITY

Story map will track changes before, after schools open

BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE: April 19, 2018
Twenty-five years from now, some journalist or scholar will want to assess the impact of Binghamton University's Health Sciences Campus on the Johnson City neighborhood where it's being built. Lucky for that person, the research has already started.

The Johnson City Revitalization Project is a story map — an online collection of data, interviews, photos and videos — that documents what's going on today in order to provide a baseline against which future data can be measured. The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is expected to open this summer, and the Decker School of Nursing building is under construction.

The Geography Department's Distinguished Service Professor John Frazier is leading the story map effort, with help from undergraduate and graduate students, and geography faculty and staff. The project organizes information in a manner that tells the story of the revitalization process and is able to track changes going forward.... CONTINUE

The study area surrounds the Health Sciences Campus. A series of maps show demographics, crime reports, property values, land use and more.

Undergraduate Research

Nine seniors met the requirements to enroll in a capstone course (Geography 482) taught by Professor Frazier in Spring 2018. This "Applied Urban Research" combined urban theory with GIS Story Map to extend a project based in the JC Revitalization Project focused on the Health Sciences Campus to a new study area surrounding the new Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in downtown Binghamton. This very limited introductory research effort will lead to continuing research in the City of Binghamton. These students were invited to showcase their research at an event on May 4 at the Koffman Center.
The students are shown here with Professor John Frazier presenting their research at Binghamton University's Research Days on Friday, April 20th, 2018.

From left to right: Jesus Raul Cepin, Christabel Martinez, Cliff Marks, Joshua Gonzalez, Elvis Huang, Dylan Markowitz, Randy Lupin, Dylan Stackpole, Evan Larson, Professor John Frazier.

Cultural connections at BU

Li Xi, Geography Master's student from China, shares her experience

Pipe Dream Prism
By Kara Jillian Brown - April 15, 2018

When Li Xi visits a new country, she's not only interested in the culture, but also the physical geography of the area.

"Whenever my parents took me to travel, I was always interested in the topographical history of that specific area," Xi said. "I figured out that I was the only one who was super interested in it."

Now a second-year graduate student studying cartography and geographical information systems, Xi has been able to turn that affinity into a future career... CONTINUE

 Li Xi, a second-year graduate student studying cartography and geographical information systems, won the 2017 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.
(photo by Noah Bressner)

Student Examines Campus' Effect on Neighborhood:

Joshua Gonzalez is part of a team of faculty, staff and students conducting a novel study of the community near Binghamton's pharmacy school. Read More...

Team members Joshua Gonzalez, Kevin Heard, Lucius Willis, and Alexandros Balili

Geography Department Holds Third Annual GIS Day:

Stenger aims to use system to better local community

GIS day organizers Kevin Heard and Lucius Willis present Geography Graduate Student Courtney Zirkel with an award for her presentation at the third annual GIS Day, hosted by the Geography Department, on Friday, February 16.

Read More about GIS Day

 GIS Day Photos:

• Twitter: 
• Facebook: 
• Dropbox:  

Geography 151 Builds Bridge Between Two Continents; class taught by Mark Reisinger links high schoolers in China with University freshmen

Mark Reisinger, an associate professor of geography, poses in front of his collection of Chinese memorabilia. Reisinger has accumulated many gifts from former URP students, as gift-giving is an important aspect of Chinese culture.

Read More about Mark Reisinger and Geography 151

Graduate Student Orientation: August 21, 2017

Geography Student Wins Chancellor's Award

The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence honors State University of New York students who have best demonstrated and been recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may include leadership, campus involvement, athletics, career achievement, community service or creative and performing arts.

Commencement 2017 Profile: Frank Tolbert

Frank Tolbert received his bachelor's degree in geography from Binghamton University where he is remaining to pursue his master's degree.

Learn more about Tolbert's work and experiences at Binghamton University