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Ian A Muehlenhaus

612-624-3271
Geography 414 SocSci
Curriculum Vitae

Department Affiliations


Specialties

  • Map Rhetoric Categorization
  • Cartography and map design
  • Animated and dynamic cartography
  • GIS & society
  • Geopolitical theory
  • Hungary and post-socialist transformation
  • Political geography
  • Developing online geography pedagogy

Educational Background

  • Ph.D.: Geography, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., 2009.
  • M.Sc.: Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Penn., 2002.
  • B.A.: Geography and International Studies, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minn., 1999.

Publications

  • Cartographic symbolization and visualization: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Robert McMaster, Taylor & Francis, Manual of geospatial science and technology, Second Edition, March 2010. Link
  • Book Review: "Designed Maps" by Cynthia Brewer: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Cartographic Perspectives, Forthcoming , 2010.
  • Book Review: "GIS Cartography" by Margaret Peterson: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, CaGIS Journal, 2010 .
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, SAGE, The Encyclopedia of Environment and Society, 2007.
  • World Systems Theory: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, SAGE, The Encyclopedia of Environment and Society, 2007.
  • Shifting the Iron Curtain of Kantian Peace: NATO Expansion and the Modern Magyars: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Oxford University Press, The Geography of War and Peace, 2005. Link
  • Book review: "American Empire: Roosevelt's Geographer and the Prelude to Globalization" by Neil Smith: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Arab World Geographer, 2004. Link
  • Book review: "The Atlas of Cyberspace": Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Association of American Geographers, Annals of the AAG, 93 946-947, 2003. Link
  • The Spatial Dementia of Geopolitics: Online Agency and US Hegemonic Decline. Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, The Pennsylvania State University, Author, 2002. Link
  • Review: Geopolitics and Globalization in the Twentieth Century: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Elsevier, Political Geography, 21 955-957, 2001. Link
  • Book review: "Nested Identities": Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Professional Geographer, 52 764-765, 2000. Link
  • Research, Theory, and Why We Should Care: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, InformeDesign, Implication, 2 3-4, 2004. Link
  • Human Geography, Design, and Social Responsibility: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, InformeDesign, Implications, 1 1-3, 2003. Link
  • AbsurDitty: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Author. Link
  • Surely but a dream...: Muehlenhaus, Ian Alexander, Watermark Press, Author.

Research Activities

  • Categorizing the Rhetoric Found in Maps: I am interested in moving beyond merely qualitative and anecdotal analysis of how maps are used to communicate arguments. My research (based off of my dissertation work) is the first attempt to systematically analyze 100s of maps at the same time so that we can begin categorizing the different rhetorical tactics used by map producers. In essence, I argue that Tufte has been insightful for map designers, but wrong about graphical integrity. There are other, more effective methods of arguing with maps than the clean version he proposes. In fact, chart junk and ducks can be extremely useful depending on the style of message you are attempting to put forth, 2007 - Never...
  • Online Atlas of the Political-Economy: Creating an extensive, all encompassing, online atlas of economic, political, and social indicators from around the world. I plan on using Flash/AS and Google Earth/KML to create a data driven atlas that updates as data becomes available from a variety of government and non-profit agencies. , January 2010 - Ongoing
  • Geopolitics and GIScience: ...or the historical evolution of political thematic cartography by the state and the impact of contemporary political deterriorialization on mapping., March 2006 - Graduation, May 2008

Creative Activities

  • Map & Web Site Design: I am the Artistic Director of Muehlenhaus Maps (a subsidiary of Muehlenhaus Studios), January 2006
  • Strategy board games: Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Memoir '44, Risk, Settlers of Catan, Torres, Kahuna, and Axis & Allies
  • Card & board games of all stripes: Any game designed by Sid Sackson and vintage (1960s & 70s) 3M games
  • Axis & Allies War at Sea Miniatures: Collecting little World War II ships and playing battle simulations with them. Yes, I know it is nerdy, but for some reason I am highly addicted to doing this! I even play with them by myself. Weird... , August 2009 - Currently

Professional Activities

  • AAG West Lakes Paper Presentation: "How They Lie with Maps: a Systematic Analysis of Political Cartographic Manipulations" , October 2009
  • AAG Annual Conference Paper Presentation: Staying Goode: Cartographic Representation in Goode's World Atlas (1929-2009) , April 2009
  • North American Cartographic Information Society Annual Conference, Missoula, MT: Paper: "Dissecting Maps: Using Quantitative Content Analysis to Identify How Maps Articulate Space" , October 2008
  • AAG Annual Conference Paper Presentation: See CV , April 2008
  • North American Cartographic Information Society Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO: Poster Presentation: Geovisualizing Me, v1.0 , October 2007
  • Grad Representative: Department of Geography Undergraduate Education Committee , Fall 2007 - Spring 2008
  • Grad Representative: UMN Geography Faculty Meetings , September 2006 - May 2007
  • Peer Reviewer for Political Geography Journal: When asked to, I review and pass judgment on my peers' work for this journal. , 2006
  • AAG Annual Conference Presentation 2007: See CV , April 2007
  • AAG Annual Conference Panel Organizer and Chair 2006: See CV , March 2006
  • AAG Annual Conference Paper Panel Presentation 2003: See CV , March 2003
  • AAG Annual Conference Paper Presentation 2002: See CV , March 2002
  • Political Geography Specialty Group Pre-Conference, West Point Academy 2001: Chair of Energy and Conflict Session , March 2001

Outreach Activities

  • Faculty Senate Representative: UW-River Falls External Relations Committee, Fall 2009 - Fall 2012
  • Consultant and Editor: My Wonderful World Campaign, National Geographic Society, October 2008 - October 2009
  • Institute Faculty, National Geographic Society: "Borders in Europe" Summer Teaching Institute, Washington, D.C., July 9, 2008 - July 19, 2008

Awards

  • GRPP Fellowship, Summer 2008
  • Zoltai Graduate Fellowship, September 2005 - May 2006
  • Ralph Hall Brown Memorial Prize -- Best Grad Student Publication, May 2005
  • Summer Research Fellowship -- Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, June 2005-August 200
  • Greenhorn Award -- Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel, University of Minnesota, 2004
  • Matti E. Kaups Geography Scholarship Award -- Dept. of Geography, UMD, May 2000
  • UROP -- University of Minnesota, January 1999 - May 1999

Courses Taught

  • Faculty: Human Geography, Department of Geography and Mapping Sciences, University of Wisconsin River Falls (beginning Fall 2008)
  • Lecturer: Introduction to Geography, Metropolitan State University (Summer 2008)
  • Lecturer: Principles of Cartography, University of Minnesota (Spring 2008)
  • Lecturer: Human Geography, Macalester College (Spring 2008)
  • Lecturer: The Geographic Transformations of Post-Soviet Europe, Macalester College (Spring 2008)
  • Lecturer: Europe, a Geographic Perspective, University of Minnesota (Fall 2007)
  • Lecturer: Europe, a Geographic Perspective, University of Minnesota (Summer 2007)
  • Lecturer: Intro to Physical and Human Geography, Metropolitan State University (Summer 2007)
  • Lecturer: Europe, a Geographic Perspective, University of Minnesota (Fall 2006)
  • Lecturer: Europe, a Geographic Perspective, University of Minnesota (Summer 2006)
  • Lecturer: Europe, a Geographic Perspective, University of Minnesota (Fall 2005)
  • Lecturer: Human Geography, Penn State University (Summer 2003*)
  • TA: Modern Europe and Issues of Immigration, IGS Summer Teaching Workshop, University of Minnesota
  • TA: Mapping Our World -- University of Minnesota (and at Penn State)
  • TA: Principles of Cartography, University of Minnesota (Spring 2006)
  • TA: Physical Geography, Penn State University (Fall 2001, Spring 2002)
  • TA: Human Geography, Penn State University (Spring 2001)
  • TA: Geography of International Affairs, Penn State University (Fall 2000)
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