Varenius Then and Now:
From Geographia Generalis to Geographic Information Science

July 9-11, 2000
The Parkhotel in Hitzacker, Germany
 
An International Scientific Symposium organized by:
 
  • U.S. National Center for Geographic Information & Analysis
  • University of California at Santa Barbara
  • University at Buffalo
  • University of Maine
 
in collaboration with HeimatMUSEUM Walther-Honig im Alten Zollhaus in Hitzacker (Elbe), Germany


The work of Bernhard Varenius (1622-1650) has made a lasting impact on the discipline of geography. His masterpiece, Geographia Generalis, makes the important distinction between the geographically generic and the specific. Together with his strong mathematical foundation for geography, Varenius provides a philosophical foundation for research that has been used recently to advance the science of geographic information. Under a project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis has led the development of research agendas in geographic information science, which make a modern interpretation of Varenius's view of geography (http://www.ncgia.org/varenius). The implications of a 350-year-old perspective of geography on the scientific basis of today's and tomorrow's high-technology industry in geographic information systems poses many challenging and fascinating questions.

This scientific symposium will bring together geographers, historians, philosophers, information scientists, and other scientists who relate their work to Varenius.

Possible topics for presentation include:

  • The history of geographia generalis
  • Varenius's descriptio regni japoniae as an example of geographia specialis
  • Varenius and his mentors and intellectual fathers
  • Modern interpretations of geographia generalis
  • The influence of geographia generalis on Newton
  • Comparison of geographia generalis and today's knowledge of geography
  • Reevaluation of Varenius's special geography and its relationship to general geography
  • Comparison of the elements of geographia generalis and the concepts available in geographic information systems
  • Relations between geographic information science and geographia generalis
  • Recent advances in geographic information science

Interested participants should submit a 1000 word summary, in English, describing the core ideas of a proposed paper presentation. Extended versions of selected papers will be published as a book after the symposium. Authors may also apply for travel support. The NCGIA's Varenius project will make available up to ten travel scholarships. Submissions, in electronic form as postscript files or URLs to PDF files, should be made to: Varenius2000@ncgia.org

Important dates:
  • March 15, 2000: submission of 1000 word abstract
  • April 1, 2000: notification of authors
  • Afternoon of July 9, 2000: Field excursion to Varenius's birthplace
  • July 9-11, 2000: Varenius Symposium
Conference Co-Chairs:
Max J. Egenhofer, University of Maine
Michael F. Goodchild, University of California at Santa Barbara
David M. Mark, University at Buffalo

Core Planning Group:
Andrew U. Frank, Technical University Vienna
Christian Freksa, University of Hamburg
Oliver Günther, Pôle Universitaire Paris and Humboldt University Berlin
Eric Sheppard, University of Minnesota
Barry Smith, University at Buffalo

Local Arrangements Chair:
Klaus Lehmann, Hitzacker

Support from the U.S. National Science Foundation under NSF grant SBR-9600465 is gratefully acknowledged.
 
Link to Call for Papers Link to Varenius References Link to Meeting Program Link to Participant List Link to Meeting Logistics Link to Varenius Homepage