Rashid's Blog: A Place for Inquisitive Souls

From June 10-24, Google is offering a new online course two geo-related areas: Google Maps and Google Earth.

Google Maps: Explore features of the new Google Maps. Learn to create and share custom maps using Google Maps Engine Lite. Taught by Google Maps Product Managers Daniel Demetri and Beth Liebert.

Google Earth: Discover the world using Google Earth. Learn how to create and share a tour of interesting locations that tells a 3D geographical story. Taught by Google Earth Product Manager Peter Birch.

The courses are self-paced, where one can watch videos (or read text lessons) and apply the skills you learn. You’ll be able to connect with experts during the course via Google+ Hangouts.

At the end of the course you’ll have the opportunity to complete a project and earn a certificate. You can learn more about the courses and register now on the Mapping with Google site…

Guest post by John Spencer, Senior GIS Specialist for MEASURE Evaluation

As a geographer, I find the growth of geographic tools in the global public health field fascinating to watch. I started doing GIS work at MEASURE Evaluation in 1999. At that time there were many challenges one had to overcome to map data. For example, geographically linked data was often limited, and without a link to geography, data can’t be mapped. Another challenge during that time was the limited availability of GIS software. The software that was available was relatively expensive, and difficult to learn. These factors hampered many organizations’ capacity for using GIS as a means to map and communicate data.

Fast forward ten years. Data is more available now than ever and GIS software is more accessible. The last several years have seen several key developments:

• USAID opened its GeoCenter in 2011
• World Bank developed the Mapping for…

By NANDITHA KRISHNA, Director, CPR Environmental Education Centre

First published by The Hindu, June 5, 2013

This year’s World Environment Day message is targeting food wastage and campaigning for correct food choices.  This is a problem of nations in North America and Europe, East Asia, and urban India.  For every child who goes to sleep hungry, an urban child probably throws away his plate of vegetables.

It is estimated by the FAO that approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food is being wasted every day throughout the world.  This is equivalent to the entire annual agricultural production of sub-Saharan Africa.  It is also estimated that one in seven people in the world goes to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger.

India was a food deficient country till the 1960’s when a terrible famine engulfed the whole…