Published: November 18, 2009 07:52 am      

Micozzi travels beyond 'Roof of Africa'

Have you ever wanted to experience the physical and cultural geography of places much different than your own? If so, a one-hour colloquium Thursday, Nov. 19, at East Central University will highlight an ECU professor’s travels to northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.

Dr. Mark Micozzi, associate professor of cartography and geography, will talk about his experiences at 4 p.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center. The colloquium is sponsored by ECU’s Cartography Society as part of Geography Awareness Week in November and is open to students, faculty, staff and the community.

Micozzi will include images of his successful climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, “the roof of Africa,” that rises 19,340 feet above sea level and is the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

He also will highlight safaris in four national parks, an excursion to the island of Zanzibar, the coastal towns and beaches along the Kenyan coast, a home-stay on a primitive island and a trek through the unexplored reaches of the Usambara Mountains of northern Tanzania.

Micozzi said a spiritual and personal journey led him to experience the area’s geography first hand by learning about the physical environment and the tribes and people who live there.

Following the presentation, Micozzi and international students will answer questions and refreshments and snacks will be available.

The Cartography Society, with the assistance of the University of Oklahoma’s GEAR UP program, also will host 233 students from Curtis Inge Middle School in Noble from Monday through Wednesday. The students will participate in a geographical tour of ECU’s campus using aerial photography and global positioning systems. The students also will learn about career choices and college life.

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, the Cartography Society will promote GIS (Geographical Information Systems) Day in the Student Center by showcasing real-world applications of this important technology and how it is making a difference in daily life.

GIS Day began in 1999 and has been celebrated by more than 10,000 organizations in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit http://www.gisday.com.

Geography Awareness Week began in 1987 by presidential proclamation to promote the importance of geography education in the United States. Its purpose is to draw attention to what geography is, why it is important, and how American citizens can ensure access to a robust geography education that prepares them to participate in global, social and economic activities and to make decisions regarding people, places and environments. More information is available at http://www.mywonderfulworld.org.

For more information, contact Dr. Mark Micozzi at 580-559-5398. Information about ECU’s Cartography and Geography program is available at the department’s website at http://www.ecok.edu/cartogeo or visit Room 127 in the lower level of the Horace Mann Building.