BY DR. MADELINE BROWN
Merced College
Do you ever wonder about the “why” of “where?”
Why do we have issues with dry dust ANDdamp fog in Merced County?
Why is Los Banos growing more east-west than north-south?
Why is it so windy all the time?
Turns out, you might be a geographer at heart! Geography is so much more than memorizing states, capitals and country names; and I am excited to bring this dynamic subject to life as the new adjunct professor in geography at the Merced College Los Banos Campus.
My name is Dr. Madeline Brown. I have had the pleasure of teaching in recent years as a graduate student and instructor of record at UC Merced, where I completed my doctorate degree on the transportation “hazardscape” of the Yosemite National Park region.
With a bachelor’s degree in Geography and a master’s in Geographic Information Science and Technology, I can talk about “why is what where?” until I’m blue in the face!
Geography draws on an understanding of weather, climate, plants, landforms, people, bodies of water and more — connecting it all to help us understand and respond to challenges across spatial (area) and temporal (time) scales (our favorite word in geography).
For example, in Los Banos, we can practice local geographic thinking by exploring how soil composition, rainfall fluctuations, seasonal temperature patterns (and disruptions) and resulting crop yields influence land management decisions.
Our local challenges are connected to state-level policies on water allocation and agricultural support, which in turn inform federal decisions on environmental sustainability and food security. Beyond that, these issues also connect to global food markets, where shifts in crop production can impact supply chains and international trade.
In our nearby foothills, geographers can study how local weather conditions, vegetation, housing developments, and land management practices influence wildfire behavior and risk.
These challenges extend to state-level policies on fire prevention, resource management and emergency response, which then shape federal wildfire management strategies. The frequency and intensity of wildfires contribute to global climate patterns, affecting air quality and carbon emissions worldwide, and we even rely on international partners to help combat wildfires here in the states.
Geography is everywhere, influencing everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat. It offers both practical knowledge and critical thinking skills to help us navigate the world, literally and metaphorically.
Whether you’re interested in understanding local place-based issues or exploring how they connect to broader global trends, please consider joining us this fall at the Los Banos Campus in Geography 01 (Physical Geography) or Geography 02 (World Geography).
Visit https://www.mccd.edu/enroll-at-merced-college/enroll-today/ to learn how to enroll in classes at the Merced College Los Banos Campus!
— Dr. Madeline Brown is a Professor of Geography, Merced College Los Banos Campus
