Hello, Geographers!

So it may not look it with all the snow outside, though this listserv marks the end of fall (- your finals, you're not off the hook yet)! There's a lot of things to think about as the semester comes to an end, so here's a hefty listserv to inform you of some of them!

1. New Guatemala Field Course!!
2. Course Evaluations (Do them)
3. SUS Awards & Funding Opportunity   
4. U.S. GIS/RS Summer Job Opportunity
5. Mildy Interesting Map of the Week
6. Cool Thing of the Week

1. Guatemala Field Study Course

If you're a geography major (or just like to travel and get credit for it) We have a new field course Next Semester!! Here's a blurb highlighting all the fun you'll be having should you sign up :)

"This is a 2-week intensive field course that will give you an overview of tropical cropping systems, their sustainability, and how they impact food security. We will visit banana, coffee, tea and cardamom plantations, traditional Mayan and non-indigenous farms, among other activities. Discover the diversity of Guatemala's climate, geography and cultures, and how they influence agricultural activities!"
 
Dates: April 30^th to May 12^th 2017 (exact dates to be confirmed by Dec. 31^st), with due dates for course work in June
Location: Guatemala City, Zacapa region, Izabal and Alta Verapaz provinces
Cost: approx. 1,750$ (exact cost to be confirmed by Dec. 31^st), including meals, accommodation and domestic travel. Excluded from the cost are tuition, flight, travel health insurance, immunizations and personal expenses.
 

2. Course Evaluations

Do them! It means a lot to the profs and TA's involved in teaching your courses as to better themselves and take your (hopefully) constructive feedback. If you find yourself pressed for time, take my non-biased advice and just do your GEOG course evaluations. This makes for a great way to procrastinate and feel productive at the same time, as well as better the course you're reviewing for future students taking it.

Access the evaluations here, and don't forget to fill them out before Dec. 22nd!

3. SUS Awards and Funding

Did you know the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) Ambassador Fund provides funding for students hosting or attending conferences or competitions of an academic nature? Well now you do. If there's a science conference/competition you would love to attend though is too far away, or costs too much to go to, apply for funding from SUS and you could be sponsored to go!
visit http://sus.mcgill.ca/resources/funding/ for more information. The next deadline is January 21^st, 2017!

4. U.S GIS/Remote Sensing Summer Job Opportunity

So I was very conflicted posting this, as i'm definitely applying, though thought the American Geog community deserved to know (sorry hosers).
NEON (based in Boulder Colorado) is accepting university students with GIS and ENVI experience for a paid summer job, which you can read up more on at this link! Applications are due Feb. 10th so keep that in mind if you're planning on applying!

5. Mildly Interesting Map of the Week

In the U.S after the election geographers have been coming out of the woodworks to remap the U.S. based on different attributes of the states. Here's a pretty funky one done by the New York Times splitting the U.S. into 7 "mega regions". click it to read more about it!

6. Cool Thing of the Week

Despite not finding a really cool thing of the week, the coolest thing of all (asides the weather) is that we're nearing the end of the semester! Don't forget to destress a little before finals, and remember YOU CAN DO IT! if I'm not convincing you, let these Motivational Sharks remind you about how fin-tastic you are :)

And there you have it, 

We just wanted to say how great it was to have you all attend our events, whether it be on a journey through Canada, or painting along with Bob Ross. We love to see you guys engaged with the department, and hope to host many more events for you all next semester! 

Signing off for the semsester, 
Noé Schultz
VP Communications
McGill Undergraduate Geography Society