So I had no idea that geography week even existed, which is pretty sad considering i'm a geography major! So i had to look it up to see what it was all about and what other people were doing! ( I know this doesn't entirely have to do with the oceans, but I think its really interesting!)
National Geography DayWhat is National Geography Week?
Since 1987, the National Geographic Society (NGS) has sponsored Geography Awareness Week to promote geographic literacy in schools, communities, and organizations, with a focus on the education of children. Celebrated every 3rd week in November, National Geography Awareness Week was signed into law on July 24, 1987 by President Ronald Reagan.
The need to address geographic literacy came about in 1987 after the NGS conducted a geography survey among adults 18 years and older in the United States. The findings revealed such facts as: the average American adult could identify less than 6 of 10 U.S. states; 3 in 10 adults could not use a map to tell direction or calculate the approximate distance between two points; only 57% of adults could identify England on a map of Europe; and Brazil was the only South American country correctly identified by even half of the respondents. The United States was in a crisis when it came to geographic literacy.
Since then, from local schools to the White House, it has been a top priority to focus on the geographic education of the country. Please read below to learn why geography is so important to the Environmental Protection Agency.
SO WHATS GOING ON?
Each Day has an element of geography associtated with it!
Weather & Climate Day - Monday, November 17 Water Day - Tuesday, November 18 Energy Day - Wednesday, November 19Transportation Day - Thursday, November 20 Food & Health Day - Friday, November 21
The Canadian Association of Geographers had a GIS transportation poster competition, and Queens university held an explore camp, to share knowledge about geography with kids and teens
Here is a site on GIS day which is today! There are lots of companies and schools around the world doing different activities for GIS day.
http://www.gisday.com/
http://www.gisday.com/
And LOOK...the Smithsonian is doing something as well...at the Air and Space Museum: "Geography from Space"
The online "Geography From Space" contest is based on the same content held in the Museum each year. A new online contest is held each year during National Geography Awareness Week. Online participants have the chance to enter a random drawing to win a prize. Contestants must identify geographic locations based on a satellite image and a short clue. After the contest is over, answers are posted online.
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