Thursday, May 19, 2011

PhD student Shafer starting research in Marfa, TX


PhD student Kathleen Shafer was the first to depart to her field site this summer in Marfa, TX. Shafer, who holds degrees in Photography and Anthropology, started in the department last fall. Having had a few weeks to settle into her research, she writes:

"There is a bird that chirps outside my house that sounds exactly like the green pelican in Angry Birds. It is hilarious. For the most part, it is a quiet town. Trains pass through about four times a day, more on Saturday, and for a brief period the town is divided in two - north of the train, and south of the train. People say hello when they pass you in the street, or raise their hand in acknowledgment when they pass you in a car. The light and the colors are wondrous, and everyone knows each other."

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

AAG welcomes Joy Adams

Joy Adams, GAGS Alumna, has joined the AAG staff as Senior Researcher and was featured in the current issue of the AAG Newsletter. She received a B.A. in geography from The University of Texas at Austin in 1994 and completed her Ph.D. in geography at UT-Austin in 2006. She wrote her dissertation on German-themed heritage festivals in Central Texas, reflecting her research specializations in ethnic geography and geotourism in North America.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Following Quinoa in Bolivia


Graduate student Jon Gehrig will be conducting field research for his Master's thesis in the Bolivian Altiplano this summer. He is investigating the linkages between quinoa production and consumption in domestic and international markets.

Jon leaves next Tuesday, May 10th for Bolivia and is posting everyday. You can follow his work directly at his blog, BoliviaTravels.