![[An embellished map of the world from 1689, including separate frames for the western hemisphere, eastern hemisphere, and north and south poles.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2022/04/1024px-World_Map_1689-by-Gerard-van-Schagen-public-domain.jpg)
Every academic discipline has its own special words and phrases. However, it is hard to match geography in terms of words that are just curious. Did you know that “space” and “place” mean very different things? That the “Annals” is the hallmark of a geographer’s career? And the “First Law of Geography” is extremely important, but does not always hold true? To decipher the meanings of these words and phrases, we first must come to terms with the most ambiguous word of them all: “geographer”…
Entries by Dan Myers
Fieldwork codes-of-conduct
Field scientists often work in isolated, unsupervised, or otherwise dangerous locations. For instance, I used to work along remote streams with limited access and communication with my institution. These secluded environments can create conditions that exacerbate sexual harassment and bullying, from fellow field scientists or other people encountered in the field. This can lead to unsafe situations, particularly for non-male students and those belonging to marginalized groups. As a striking example of these hostilities, approximately 70% of women scientists have experienced harassment while doing fieldwork and one in four have been assaulted. Scientists at remote field sites can also experience hate symbols, threats of violence, or verbal abuse about a disability from people they encounter…
Do extreme floods and droughts cause more extreme floods and droughts?
![[A corn field during a drought with dry, cracked soil.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/09/drought2.jpg)
Extreme floods and droughts are considered to be one of the greatest challenges to society in the 21st century. Historically, they have led to the collapse of civilizations, fatalities, and economic losses. In Indiana, recent droughts, such as the drought of 2012, have affected agriculture and water supplies. Recent flooding, such as summer 2021’s disasters in downtown Bloomington, have damaged businesses and homes. Now, the prevalence of these extreme events is increasing around the world; heavy rainstorms are increasing the severity and frequency of floods, while warming temperatures and a thirsty atmosphere are making droughts more severe…
Rain-on-snow: I’m melting!
![[Two “road closed” signs because a major flood blocks a street in the outskirts of a big city.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/03/1200px-Riverfront_Ave_Calgary_Flood_2013-Ryan-L.C.-Quan.jpg)
In mid-February 2021, Bloomington, Indiana was hit by a winter snowstorm that dropped several inches of white, fluffy snow around town. Schools and businesses closed. However, as other people were wondering “How will I get my car out of the driveway?”, I caught myself wondering “Will it rain soon?” What? Why? Rain-on-snow melt events have been receiving a lot of attention in scientific articles I have been reading. Aptly named, these events occur when a warm rain falls on an existing snowpack…
Work-life balance
![[An inquisitive dog and cat get in the way of a computer screen on a work desk.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/03/IMG_1512-e1615424458888.jpg)
I am writing about work-life balance, the subjective idea of basically having a life outside of our job or schoolwork. Experts say that a healthy work life balance is when we are able to fulfil our responsibilities to our jobs, families, and other parts of life that are important to us. It has been the buzz on social media lately. Why? It seems at times there is almost an expectation to constantly be working, known as “hustle culture.” This can be fed by many things including changes in job demand, a fast-paced work environment, and the inability to escape work because of that darn internet. People early in their careers have not been satisfied with this and are pushing to discuss better balance…
Share our rejections
My cat comforted me as I read my latest rejection letter: my manuscript had once again been denied by a scholarly journal. Rejection letters make us feel awful. Whether these letters are just a few lines of text, or printed with elaborate letterheads on sturdy paper, we always feel grief and disappointment. I argue that… Read more »
How climate change impacts fresh water: a SWAT modelist’s perspective
When people ask me what I research as a Ph.D. student in the Indiana University Department of Geography, I respond “I model.” This is typically followed by a head-to-toe, confused glance at my worn running shoes, wrinkly shorts, and faded yellow-and-brown collared shirt. “No,” I say, “I’m not a fashion model. I make computer models…. Read more »