Professor Sarah Bednarz RIP

Via the IGU Commission on Geographical Education (IGU-CGE) and Professor David Lambert.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Emerita Sarah Witham Bednarz, a distinguished scholar whose work shaped generations of geography educators and researchers.

Renowned for her contributions to spatial thinking, the educational use of geospatial technologies, and teacher education, she helped strengthen the intellectual foundations of our field. Across borders, she led and anchored many of the international projects and collaborations that have come to define geography education.

For many entering the geography education community, she was a trusted mentor whose nurturing spirit helped young scholars build confidence and curiosity.

She will be remembered for her tireless energy and leadership in defending the place of geography in schools, universities, and public life, far beyond any single nation. A past president of the American Association of Geographers, she was also a devoted, long-standing member of the IGU Commission on Geographical Education.
Her contributions will endure in the research she advanced and the people she mentored.
We will miss the roadmap she drew for our field.

Karl Donert

Another person with a long association with the GA is Karl Donert, who worked at Liverpool Hope University for some time.

Here is an interview of Karl by the legendary Joseph Kerski.

He has presented numerous times at the GA Conference, and was also involved in other GA activity over the years.

Karl also wrote books with former GA President Bill Chambers who worked with him at the same university. These were mentioned in Chris Kington's Presidential lecture.

He has been the President of EuroGeo for many years, until recently and worked on numerous projects which have seen him cross-cross Europe for over a decade before the last year's hiatus in his peripatetic lifestyle.

He has worked on a great many ERASMUS projects with me, including some where the GA or GA personnel were involved. These include the I-USE project, which I was involved with for several years, along with John Lyon and Iain Palot.

Another project which is ongoing and included Professor David Lambert, Duncan Hawley and myself amonst others was the 2nd phase of the GeoCapabilities project, which explored ideas around powerful knowledge.

Karl has done a great deal to inform my own practice and provide me with professional opportunities which have enriched me in many ways, and I am very grateful to him for support over the last decade in particular.

Image: Karl walking on the frozen Wothersee in Klagenfurt - image by Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license.

As always, memories of working with Karl welcome.