EarthView Returns to State House

Because it attracts cameras and crowds, EarthView is the department's most visible example of public outreach. Much more important, however, are the many connections our faculty, students and alumni make throughout the region on a regular basis in schools, planning agencies, private companies, service organizations and more.

EarthView helped to make the Great Hall of Flags an even more dramatic setting than usual for the annual State Universities Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House. Every year, student leaders gather to let their legislators know some of the great things that are happening in the nine state universities across the Commonwealth.

This year, BSU geography students Dennis Corvi and Kevin Bean were part of the delegation, while Professors Vernon Domingo and James Hayes Bohanan joined with alumna Ashley Costa to share EarthView with students from across Massachusetts, as well as State House visitors from across the state and around the world.

In addition to advocating for ongoing support of public higher education, the event became an opportunity to promote geography education through legislation that was introduced by Sen. Brewer of Barre and Rep. Smola (a geographer) of Palmer. More about that legislative effort is on the blog of the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance.

It has been quite a busy week for EarthView, with three very public appearances reaching about 700 people, beginning with Earth Day at the State House, continuing with a school vacation week appearance at the Hanover Mall, and concluding with this return to the State House.

More photographs -- mostly by Ashley Costa, who is not only a geographer but also a professional photographer -- are on the EarthView at State House Flickr set.