Allan James

 

Geospatial Technologies & Geomorphological Mapping
HISTORY of Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium

The Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium (BGS) was first convened in 1970 and has now had forty successful Symposia, each devoted to a theme within geomorphology.  The BGS has traditionally generated a proceedings volume and many of these have been highly influential in their respective subfields of geomorphology.  This long, rich history began at the State University of New York, Binghamton, but has ranged far beyond to locations across the USA and abroad.  

In 1966, four geomorphologists and physical geographers at the State University of New York-Binghamton, all graduates of A.N. Strahler at Columbia University, began organizing weekly “brown-bag lunches” and discussing their common interests: geomorphology and water. As the discussions became more focused over the next few years, and with the addition of Marie Morisawa to SUNY-Binghamton in 1970, the group put on the first Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium, focusing specifically on Environmental Geomorphology.

These co-organizers were dismayed at the increasing specialization and compartmentalization that had occurred in the sciences, and noted that many of the intriguing problems in science had become interdisciplinary. Because many problems in environmental science transcend traditional science and cut across scientific disciplines, they viewed the geomorphologist, as the surviving generalist in earth science, as being particularly capable to interact in emerging environmental issues. Thus, they convened the first Binghamton Symposium, stating that “This Symposium is the first in what will be an annual symposia series in geomorphology.” And so it was. The Binghamton Symposium has been held annually ever since for over four decades. Each year the Symposium covers a specific topic as it relates to geomorphology.

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Past Symposia

1. Environmental Geomorphology , D.R. Coates, 1970; Binghamton, NY
2. Quantitative Geomorphology , M. Morisawa, 1971; Binghamton, NY
3. Coastal Geomorphology , D.R.Coates, 1972; Binghamton, NY
4. Fluvial Geomorphology , M. Morisawa, 1973; Binghamton, NY
5. Glacial Geomorphology , D.R. Coates, 1974; Binghamton, NY
6. Theories of Landform Development , W.N. Melhorn & R.C. Flemal, 1975; Binghamton, NY
7. Geomorphology and Engineering , D.R. Coates, 1976; Binghamton, NY
8. Geomorphology in Arid Regions , D.O. Doehring, 1977; Binghamton, NY
9. Thresholds in Geomorphology , D.R. Coates & J.D. Vitek, 1978; Binghamton, NY
10. Adjustments of the Fluvial System , D.D. Rhodes & E.J. Williams, 1979; Binghamton, NY
11. Applied Geomorphology , R.G. Craig & J.L. Craft, 1980; Kent, OH
12. Space and Time in Geomorphology , C.E. Thorn, 1981, Urbana-Champaign, IL
13. Groundwater as a Geomorphic Agent , R.G. LaFleur, 1982; Troy, NY
14. Models in Geomorphology , M.J. Woldenberg, 1983; Buffalo, NY
15. Tectonic Geomorphology , M. Morisawa & J.T. Hack, 1984; Binghamton, NY
16. Hillslope Processes , A.D. Abrahams, 1985; Buffalo, NY
17. Aeolian Geomorphology , W.G. Nickling, 1986, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
18. Catastrophic Flooding , L. Mayer & D. Nash, 1987, Oxford, Ohio
19. History of Geomorphology , K.J.Tinkler, 1988, St. Catherines, Ontario
20. Appalachian Geomorphology , T.W. Gardner & W.D. Sevon, 1989, Carlisle, PA
21. Soils and Landscape Evolution , P.L.K. Knuepfer & L.D. McFadden, 1990; Binghamton, NY
22. Periglacial Geomorphology , J.C. Dixon & A.D. Abrahams, 1991, Buffalo, NY
23. Geomorphic Systems , J.D. Phillips & WH. Renwick, 1992; Oxford, OH
24. Geomorphology: The Research Frontier and Beyond , J.D.Vitek & J.R. Giardino, 1993; Hamilton, Ontario
25. Geomorphology and Natural Hazards, M. Morisawa, 1994; Binghamton, NY
26. Biogeomorphology, Terrestrial and Freshwater Systems , C.R. Hupp & A.D. Howard, 1995, Charlottesville, VA
27. The Scientific Nature of Geomorphology , B.L. Rhoads & C.E. Thorn, 1996; Urbana-Champaign, IL
28. Changing the Face of the Earth: Engineering Geomorphology , J.R. Giardino, R.A. Marston & M. Morisawa, 1997; Bologna, Italy
29. Coastal Geomorphology , D. J. Sherman, P.A. Gares, 1998, Woods Hole, MA
30. Geomorphology in the Public Eye , P. Knuepfer & J.F. Petersen, 1999; Binghamton, NY
31. Modeling and Geomorphology , J.F. Shroder & M.P. Bishop, 2000, Binghamton, NY
32. Mountain Geomorphology - Integrating Earth Systems , D.R. Butler, S.J. Walsh, & G.P. Malanson, 2001; Chapel Hill, NC
33. Dams and Geomorphology , P.J. Beyer, 2002; Bloomsburg, PA
34. Ice Sheet Geomorphology , P.L.K. Knuepfer, J. Fleisher & D.R. Butler, 2003; Binghamton, NY
35. Weathering and Landscape Evolution , A.V. Turkington, J.D. Phillips, & S.W. Campbell, 2004; Lexington, KY
36. Geomorphology and Ecosystems , C.S. Renshler, M. Doyle, & M. Thoms, 2005; Buffalo, NY
37. The Human Role in Changing Fluvial Systems , W.A. Marcus & L.A. James, 2006; Columbia, SC
38. Complexity in Geomorphology , M.A. Fontstad & A.B. Murray, 2007; Durham, NC
39. Fluvial Deposits and Environmental History, P.F. Hudson, K.W. Butzer, & T.P. Beach, 2008; Austin, TX.
40. Geomorphology and Vegetation: Interactions, Dependencies, and Feedback Loops, C. Hession, J. Curran, L. Resler, T. Wynn, 2009; Blacksburg, VA.
41. Geospatial Technologies and Geomorphological Mapping, L. Allan James, Michael P. Bishop, Stephen Walsh, 2010; Columbia, SC.

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