Michael DeMers

Michael N. DeMers is a geographer and Professor Emeritus of geography at New Mexico State University.[1][2][3]

Michael N. DeMers
Headshot of Dr. Michael DeMers
Born (1951-08-31) 31 August 1951
East Grand Forks, Minnesota
CitizenshipUnited States of America
Alma materUniversity of North Dakota, The University of Kansas
OccupationGeographer

Education and field

DeMers earned his Ph.D. in geography from the University of Kansas in 1985 and has taught geography and courses related to Geographic information systems (GIS) since 1983.[4][5] He specializes in Geographic information science (GIScience), including applying it to research in real-world problems in fields such as landscape ecology, researching its theoretical implications, and teaching it to students. He advocates for geographic education in public schools and has researched employing novel technologies such as second life in the classroom.[6]

  • GCERT, Online Teaching and Learning, New Mexico State University, 2007[7]
  • Ph.D., Geography, University of Kansas, 1985 [4]
  • M.Phil., Geography, University of Kansas, 1983[7]
  • M.S., Geography, University of North Dakota, 1980[7]
  • B.S.Ed., Earth Science, University of North Dakota, 1974[7]

Career

DeMers served as department head of the geography department at New Mexico State University between 2000 and 2004.[7][8] He served as President of the National Council for Geographic Education in 2014 (NCGE0).[9]

DeMers' research focuses on applying GIS to problems including water resources, big data, and species range expansion. He has contributed significantly to literature involving geographic information science and teaching geospatial concepts with novel technologies.[10][11] He advocates teaching geography in public schools using geographic information systems and has worked to increase public awareness of GIScience.[10][6]

Publications

Non-Fiction

He has published over seventy-five research articles on geographic topics and served as an editor, and contributed significantly to, the Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge.[7][12]

He has published six texts on geographic information systems (GIS), including:

Title Author(s) or volume editor(s) Year first published Year of latest edition Editions Languages and Translations
Geographic Information Systems in Action[13] Michael DeMers 2017 2017 1 English
GIS for Dummies[5] Michael DeMers 2008 2008 1 English
Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge[12] David DiBiase; Michael DeMers; Ann Johnson; Karen Kemp; Ann Taylor Luck; Brandon Plewe; Elizabeth Wentz 2006 2006 1 English
GIS Modeling in Raster[14] Michael DeMers 2002 2002 1 English; Arabic
Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems[8] Michael DeMers 1997 2008 4 English; Russian; Chinese

Fiction

After retiring from his position as a geography professor, DeMers began writing fiction novels.[15] The first of these to be published is the book "Young Vandar."[15][16]

Awards and recognition

In 2010, DeMers was awarded the Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography “for exceptional accomplishments in applied geography education, research, and service to the profession and the wider public."[4][17] The Anderson Medal of Honor is the highest honor the Applied Geography Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers can give.[4]

  • The UCGIS Lifetime Achievement in GIScience Education Award, 2023[10]
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Honoree, 2018[7]
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian Award, 2018[7]
  • New Mexico Geographic Information Council (NMGIC) Wheeler Peak Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018[7]
  • Quality Matters (QM) Certification, Geography 481 (Fundamentals of GIS), 2013[7]
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, University of North Dakota, 2013 [18]
  • Teaching Innovation Award, New Mexico State University Teaching Academy, 2011[7]
  • James R. Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography, 2010 [19]
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who in America, 2006[7]
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who in Social Science Education, 2004[7]
  • Highest Award for Achievement, Dale Carnegie Training, Fall, 2003.[7]

Philanthropy

Demers established the "Duane Marble Award for GIS Design and Education Research" at NMSU in 2010 to recognize the work and contributions of his friend and fellow GIScientist Duane Marble.[20] This was awarded to NMSU graduate students whose thesis focused on novel applications to GIS, or to GIS education.[20]

Personal life

DeMers grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota.[15] He is married to Dolores DeMers and has two brothers named James and Dennis.[8] He has been a fan of science fiction and fantasy since childhood and enjoys authors such as Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs.[15] His hobbies include Judo and Archery.[15]

See also

References
  1. DeMers, Michael (20 Dec 2014). "President's Column: There's Geography in My Science". The Geography Teacher. 11 (1): 41–42. doi:10.1080/19338341.2013.854266.
  2. "Faculty Partners Network: Michael DeMers". Cengage. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  3. "Dr. Michael N. DeMers Bio". New Mexico State University Department of Geography. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. "MICHAEL DEMERS (2010 WINNER)" (PDF). American Association of Geographers. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  5. DeMers, Michael (2009). GIS for Dummies (1 ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons Inc. ISBN 978-0-470-23682-6.
  6. KRWG (February 29, 2012). "NMSU Geographer Works To Improve Geography Instruction In New Mexico Schools". Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  7. DeMers, Michael. "Dr. Michael DeMers Vita" (PDF). New Mexico State University Department of Geography. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  8. DeMers, Michael (2009). Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, inc. ISBN 978-0-470-12906-7.
  9. "Colloquium Archive". UNM Geography & Environmental Studies. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  10. "Michael DeMers". University Consortium for Geographic Information Science. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  11. Sparks, Jason (March 4, 2009). "Scott Simon Looks for Coffee in Second Life". NPR. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  12. DiBiase, David; DeMers, Michael; Johnson, Ann; Kemp, Karen; Luck, Ann Taylor; Plewe, Brandon; Wentz, Elizabeth (2006). Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge (1 ed.). Association of American Geographers. ISBN 978-0-89291-267-4.
  13. DeMers, Michael (2017). Geographic Information Systems in Action (1 ed.). Wiley. ISBN 978-1119238867.
  14. DeMers, Michael (2002). GIS Modeling in Raster (1 ed.). John Wiley and Sons Inc. ISBN 0-471-31965-1.
  15. "Young Vandar". Atmosphere Press. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  16. DeMers, Michael (25 April 2023). Young Vandar (1 ed.). Austin, TX: Atmosphere Press. p. 322. ISBN 978-1639888597.
  17. "AAG Anderson Medal Recipients". American Association of Geographers. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  18. Rundquist, Brad. "Dr. Michael DeMers to Receive Distinguished Alumnus". Department of Geography Alumni Newsletter Chair’s Corner. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  19. "Previous Anderson Medal of Honor Recipients". American Association of Geographers. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  20. "Awards and Scholarships". Department of Geography. New Mexico State University. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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