TAA 2010 Conference Sessions
General Session:
 Robert Christopherson |
Twin Cities — A Geoprimer Home Companion
Friday, June 25, 9:15 - 9:45 am, Chippewa
Presenter: Robert Christopherson, Professor Emeritus of Geography, American River College (1970-2000), and author of the leading physical geography texts in the US and Canada
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul are at the core of a 15-county metropolitan region with more than 3.2 million people. The cities are situated along the Mississippi River, at its confluence with the Minnesota and St. Croix rivers. The two cities are different in look and feel and we explore this rivalry, with city-centers about 10 mi (16 km) apart. The beautiful rolling landscape, dotted with lakes, has a continental climate, with seasonal contrasts between cold winters and warm summers. The glaciers of the last ice age came and went, leaving their mark. A diverse regional economy features service, finance, rail and trucking, industry, publishing, milling, and food processing, and major educational institutions. The Geoprimer shows comparison photos between 1971 and today to demonstrate the urban morphology of this important place. Truly, we are at the "Gateway to the Midwest," as popularized on the famous radio show A Prairie Home Companion by Garrison Keillor, broadcast on NPR from St. Paul's (F. Scott) Fitzgerald Theater.
About the Presenter:
Robert W. Christopherson is Professor Emeritus of Geography, American River College (1970-2000). He was selected by American River College students as "Teacher of the Year" and received the ARC Patrons Award. He is the author of the leading physical geography texts in the US and Canada all published by Pearson Prentice Hall: He and his nature photographer wife Bobbe have completed nine expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions since 2003 gathering information and photos for his books: Geosystems, 7/e, © 2009 [Texty winner 1998]; Elemental Geosystems, 5/e, © 2007 [Texty winner 2005]; Geosystems Canadian Edition, 2/e, © 2009; and Applied Geography, 7/e, © 2009. He attended Cal State University-Chico, and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. His first textbook was published in 1992. His textbooks have received several national textbook awards. Also, he was recognized for excellence in teaching with the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education and the Outstanding Educator Award from the California Geographical Society in 1997. TAA presented him with its Presidents' Award in 2005. He has spoken across the US and Canada to hundreds of colleges, groups, and professional meetings.
