Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--An internationally recognized analyst will discuss modern U.S. political geography during a Tuesday [Sept. 8] public program at Mississippi State.
The presentation by Harm de Blij (pronounced: duh Blay), former geography editor for ABC's "Good Morning America," begins at 6:30 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. "The United States and the Political Geography of the Second Decade" is the formal title of his remarks.
On campus Tuesday and Wednesday [the 9th] as a guest of the university's geosciences department, de Blij also will meet with students, faculty and invited guests in other scheduled programs. A specialist in geopolitical and environmental issues, he currently is the John A. Hannah Professor of Geography at Michigan State University.
"Sometimes, we take for granted how much geography impacts political decisions," observed department head Darrel W. Schmitz. "Having a nationally recognized authority of Dr. de Blij's caliber speaking to students and the larger community on campus about his experiences and observations helps give them insights into the importance of geography."
In addition to ABC news, de Blij has served as geography analyst for NBC news, primarily on its MSNBC channel, and was a writer and commentator for the original PBS series, "The Power of Place."
His textbook, "Why Geography Matters" (Oxford University Press, 2005), has seen publication exceed a million copies in more than 12 editions since first released in 1970. Another best-seller, "Wine: A Geographic Appreciation" (Rowman & Allanheld), was awarded a medal by the French wine organization OIV.
A complete biography of de Blij may be read at http://deblij.net/.
For more information on de Blij's campus visit, contact Schmitz at 662-325-3915 or Schmitz@ra.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.