Tim Marshall, a political-economy and geography journalist, has penned a number of best selling books related to geography (or using geography as an entry point to discuss nation-states). His 2021 book "The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World" is the first I have read of his books. The book has ten chapters, covering 8 countries and 2 areas (the Sahel and space). It was unclear why these ten were selected (which seems a critical point to make clear for readers). The "ten maps" alluded to in the subtitles are basic cartographic regional maps with the country of focus at the center. The other part of the subtitle "the future of our world", was not well delivered on - the vast majority of the content is descriptive of history and current context, not future oriented. I have lived for extended periods in some of the countries covered, and the content is mediocre to disappointing (maybe the book is amazing on countries I do not know well, say Australia or the UK, but it does not give much reader confidence). The book is not academic, quotes and key points are not specifically cited, there are only lists of references at the end (making follow-up and fact checking impossible - readers are unable to know where the ideas are sourced). The reading lists at the end are sparse and of comparatively low quality. The source material places a heavy emphasis on websites and basic government pages, which almost certainly did not provide the material for all the content presented (for example: 1 of 11 sources for Saudi is a peer reviewed academic source, 1 of 7 listed sources for Ethiopia is a peer reviewed academic source, et cetera). I'd pass on this one. Here is an example of a future oriented comment the book has to offer:

[Australia] "This will include talking about coal. Given that all the states have coal mines, and that the AU$69.6 billion industry employs tens of thousands of people, that won't be easy... Australia could close down its industry tomorrow and not significantly reduce global pollution - it is part of a problem that will not be resolved without each country working to reduce its carbon footprint - but it would have a profound effect on the Australian economy. As such coal is likely to remain king for years to come, even as the country looks to alternative sources of energy." (p. 23) 

Corbett, J. and Cochrane, L. (2017) Engaging with the Participatory Geoweb: Exploring the Dynamics of VGI. In Volunteered Geographic Information and the Future of Geospatial Data edited by C. Campelo, M. Bertolotto and P. Corcoran. IGI Global.

Abstract: Maps were historically used as tools of the elite to maintain and expand power and control. The development of participatory mapmaking and the geoweb have opened new avenues for broader citizen engagement and therefore challenge traditional power dynamics. This chapter analyzes three examples and presents experiential learning around participatory processes and VGI contributions. Specifically we explore who is contributing their information, what are their motivations and incentives, in what ways do users interact with available technologies, and how is this contributing to change? We conclude by discussing the roles of motivations, the type of contribution, organizational capacity and leadership, and objectives. In comparing and contrasting these case studies we examine the individual and organizational dynamics of engagement, and how this can better inform the discourse about VGI.

Full version of chapter available here.

Full-time, 24-month appointment jointly in the Department of Geography and the Institute for Great Lakes Research (IGLR). The initial appointment will be for two years; continuation of the appointment is subject to funding and contingent upon satisfactory performance review. The successful candidate will conduct research mainly at the CMU main campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The position includes some funding for travel and research.

Responsibilities:

• To develop an independent research agenda focused on regional sustainable regional development of the Great Lakes region. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, the drivers of changes in mobility within the region, the economic and social impact of policies affecting the regional ecosystems, modelling the economic impact of blue growth initiatives.
  
• To work on current research developed by Dr. Marcello Graziano, mainly on blue and green growth policies in the Great Lakes and other coastal regions across the North Atlantic.
  
• To work on research developed by or in collaboration with members of IGLR and the Department of Geography.
  

Required Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. granted within the past six years.
  
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in an area of Great Lakes Research. Examples include, but are not limited to: economic geography, regional studies, green and/or blue growth, resource economics.
  
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
  

Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS), invites applications for TWO Postdoctoral Fellows to work on a research project entitled CHILD HEALTH AND MIGRANT PARENTS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA (CHAMPSEA): WAVE II. Both positions will be based in Singapore.

AREA OF EXPERTISE

The successful candidate will be someone who holds a PhD degree (or is awaiting conferment) and has research interests in a relevant area of the social sciences (e.g. Migration Studies, Health Studies, Development Studies, Anthropology, Sociology or Geography). S/he should have research experience in the area of migration, family and health studies, preferably in an Asian context, and will be expected to co-ordinate the qualitative stage of field work in either Indonesia or the Philippines. The candidate will join an international team of researchers at a crucial stage of the project when the first round of data collection has been completed.

• Good project management, team-building skills and aptitude for working in a Southeast Asian context.
• The ability to speak and understand at least one of the following Southeast Asian languages – Indonesian or Tagalog – is necessary.
• A willingness to play a co-ordinating role in the collection of qualitative data from the study country.
• Some experience in using qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo

ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROJECT

For millions of families across Asia, international labour migration has become a part of a household livelihood strategy that is motivated by a desire to improve the life chances of the next generation. Yet, there has been relatively little research on transnational householding and the impacts of parental migration on children who stay behind. In this context, the research team first set out in 2008 to collect survey data from around 1,000 households in four study countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) as part of an investigation into 'Child Health and Migrant Parents in South-East Asia' (CHAMPSEA). The findings, using children in non-migrant households as a comparison group, have enhanced knowledge and understanding of the impact of parental (and increasingly mothers') absence on the health and well-being of (a) pre-school children aged 3, 4 and 5 years and (b) children in middle childhood aged 9, 10 and 11 years left in sending communities.

CHAMPSEA II will now investigate the longer-term impacts of parental absence on the CHAMPSEA children in Indonesia and the Philippines. Using a mixed-methods research design that capitalizes on the complementary strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods, this project will collect primary data using carefully designed survey instruments in order to create a unique longitudinal data set that will allow the investigation of multiple dimensions of children's health and well-being. The longitudinal data set will include anthropometric measures (height, weight, age), measures of psychological well-being (Self-Reporting Questionnaire [SRQ20]; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), and a range of information (including parental migration histories) on selected households in Indonesia and the Philippines. The follow-up survey will interview members of the same CHAMPSEA households and the younger children in the baseline samples, who will now be 11, 12 and 13. As the older children (who were then 9, 10 and 11) will now be 17, 18 and 19, it is likely that many will have left home. A structured survey will be conducted with those still in the household and/or contactable, and a brief proxy interview with a parent or other adult on those who are uncontactable.

Anchored by an international research team with years of collaborative research experience, CHAMPSEA II will be the first mixed-method longitudinal study on the health and well-being of left-behind children in the region. Its findings will not only contribute to the academic literature but also help families, communities and government to understand better any vulnerabilities and risks that must be weighed against any material benefits of parental migration.

More details.