Joseph Kerski in the office. 

At the 2002 ESRI User Conference, California. 

Joseph Kerski, left, with some wonderful students on GIS Day, Colorado.

Joseph Kerski with Jack Dangermond, George Dailey, and Esther Worker (ESRI), California.

At the 2002 National Interpretive Association conference, Virginia. 

Geography Education--it's essential! 

Joseph Kerski serves as Geographer at the US Geological Survey's Rocky 
Mountain Mapping Center in Denver.  For the past 15 years, (see curriculum vita on request), he has been involved with education in the following roles:

(1)  Creating GIS-based curriculum; for example, writing inquiry-based units on hazards, population, environmental studies, water resources, mineral resources, climate, and more; 

2)  Supporting the implementation of GIS at all levels of society through the provision of technical support, educational support, materials support, and through publishing articles, web resources, books, and through teaching and training.

(3)  Nurturing educational partnerships; for example, with the National Indian Education Association, Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, the National Council for Geographic Education, the New Zealand Geographic Society, the International Geographic Union, the Geographical Association, the Association of American Geographers, ESRI, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Texas State University, the GLOBE project, the DLESE project, the Community Mapping Program, the University of Texas-El Paso, TERC, North Carolina State University, state geographic alliances, and others as listed on http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/partners.html.   

(4)  Conducting 40 workshops and presenting at 20 conferences annually, including the National Council for Geographic Education, the Association of American Geographers, the National Science Teachers Association, the National Indian Education Association, GeoTech Texas, the National Association of Interpretation, the ESRI User Conference, and many more as listed on http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/success.html.  

These workshops are custom-tailored for government, business, and educational users of spatial data, and most of them emphasize how to use USGS resources and about GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies.  Joseph teaches hands-on and online GIS courses at the University of Denver, at Denver Public Schools, and at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.  

(5)  Conducting research.  Dr Kerski's research interests focus on how and why teachers implement GIS into their curricula, and the effectiveness of GIS in teaching and learning.  Some of this research is located on the Research Articles section on: http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/articles.html.  

Joseph holds three geography degrees -- from the University of Colorado, the University of Kansas, and the University of Colorado, with emphasis on geographic education, GIS, and population geography. 

Some of his philosophies, some of which were featured in the 2004 Profile from the Association of American Geographers, include:

1.  Geography is essential for understanding our world--its climate, vegetation, landforms, environment, people, and politics.  

2.  We are all learning from each other.  We are privileged to be in this field.  Share your experiences with others.  Publish in venues outside your comfort zone to let others know what you are doing.

3.  Don't use technology for technology's sake.  Use it to enhance what you are doing.

4.  GIS and spatial technologies serve as an effective bridge between disciplines, such as geography, mathematics, chemistry, biology, Earth Science, civics, environmental studies, and history.

5.  Consider using GIS and spatial technologies in education.  Let the students fly!

6.  Be enthusiastic about what you do and help others to shine.