Kudos

Geography Professor David Changnon conducted a June 28 presentation on the impact of climate changes to society and the economy at a Natural Disasters Roundtable of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Changnon and his father, Stanley, a professor of geography at the University of Illinois, have done studies showing dramatic growth in the number of weather-related U.S. catastrophes. The father and son team of climatologists say movement of the population to coasts and urban areas has increased vulnerability to weather hazards.

Joanne Dempsey, executive director of the Illinois Council on Economic Education (ICEE), recently presented a two-day seminar for social studies educators at the University of Latvia in Riga. Seminar participants included classroom teachers and university educators charged with developing teacher training programs for the new Latvian social studies course which will be required in grades 1-6, beginning in 2004. Dempsey has 25 years of experience in economic education and has been executive director of the Illinois Council on Economic Education since 1995. ICEE is part of NIU's Outreach Services in the Division of Administration. The mission of the council is to assure that every student in Illinois leaves high school with a fundamental understanding of our economic system. ICEE provides professional development programs for K-12 teachers, curriculum consulting and student programs to enhance economic understanding.