THURSDAY, 22 JANUARY 2026
Location: Zoom, 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT/5:00 PM MT/4:00 PM PT
Title: “Teaching Geopolitics with Maps”
Speaker: Mark Giordano, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Professor of Geography,
Georgetown University

Summary: Georgetown University’s “Map of the Modern World” is likely the largest class in the
world that still uses maps to teach geopolitics and world affairs. The current instructor will
provide examples of how historic and contemporary maps and custom cartography are used to
engage students in global issues and help them understand international challenges from multiple
perspectives. Examples in the talk will include a Spanish colonial manuscript map of 18 th  century
South America, maps of migratory bird flyways plotted on two different projections, and Google
maps of Crimea generated in multiple countries.

Bio: Mark is Professor of Geography and Vice Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at the Walsh
School of Foreign Service. His research focuses on the international political dimensions of
water, agriculture and the environment. He teaches classes on those topics and others including
“Map of the Modern World.” Prior to Georgetown, Mark held multiple roles at the Sri Lanka
based International Water Management Institute, winner of the Stockholm Water Prize–the
"Nobel Prize for Water". In his earlier career, he was an agricultural trade economist and a
combine mechanic. Most of his professional life was in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. He is from
Walla Walla, Washington.
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You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jan 22, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8jEEIP-SSGSfOf_Sfvxe2A
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about
joining the meeting
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