TXST Geography & Environmental Studies

TXST Geography & Environmental Studies Geography... without it, you'd be lost!

🌎 Nepal–Tibet Floods: Understanding the Changing HimalayasThe devastating Nepal–Tibet floods of August 26 have caused hu...
09/03/2026

🌎 Nepal–Tibet Floods: Understanding the Changing Himalayas

The devastating Nepal–Tibet floods of August 26 have caused hundreds of deaths and left thousands missing, with the numbers continuing to rise. Our hearts are with the survivors, families, and communities affected by this tragedy on the other side of the world. ❤️

As geographers, we can also seek to understand this event from a scientific perspective. What happened? Why was the flooding so devastating? And what can we learn from it to help communities better prepare for future hazards?

This was not simply a flood—it was a major geomorphic event, a powerful natural process that became extraordinarily destructive and deadly. Understanding the connections between glaciers, geomorphology, climate change, natural hazards, and human communities can help us better understand both the event itself and the risks facing a changing Himalaya.

Join us for “Nepal Flash Floods & the Changing Himalayas” as we explore these questions through research and firsthand perspectives.

📅 September 8, 2026

🕓 4:00–5:00 p.m.

📍 Evans Liberal Arts 344

🎤 Featured Research Speakers:

Dr. Yanan Li — Glaciers & Geomorphology

Prabish Khadka — GLOF Research in Nepal

🌎 Understanding communities. Understanding landscapes. Understanding risk.

Scan the QR code to RSVP!

🐾 DID YOU KNOW? 🌎The mind behind one of the most iconic symbols in Texas State history was a Geography & Environmental S...
09/03/2026

🐾 DID YOU KNOW? 🌎

The mind behind one of the most iconic symbols in Texas State history was a Geography & Environmental Studies Bobcat! 👀

Meet Brad Monk, the talented artist who created the legendary SuperCat logo in 2003 while completing his bachelor’s degree in graphic design at Texas State (then Southwest Texas State). 🐾

But here's the part we LOVE: Brad returned to San Marcos in 2009 and earned his B.S. in Geography & Environmental Studies with a minor in Geology in 2011.

So yes… the face of TXST Athletics was designed by a Bobcat who became a Geo Bobcat! 💛

More than 20 years later, SuperCat is still one of the most recognizable symbols of Texas State—and Brad's legacy lives on every time that logo takes the field. 🐾

📖 Want to know the story behind SuperCat? Read the full story in Hillviews Magazine:

The Origin Story of Texas State University’s Iconic SuperCat Logo

🌎✨ What a way to kick off the semester! ✨🌎Our Geography & Environmental Studies Welcome Back Picnic was a HUGE success! ...
09/03/2026

🌎✨ What a way to kick off the semester! ✨🌎

Our Geography & Environmental Studies Welcome Back Picnic was a HUGE success! 🎉

Thank you to all of our students, faculty, staff, and friends who came out to celebrate the start of a new academic year with us. From great food and music to games, giveaways, and plenty of time to connect, it was the perfect way to welcome everyone back to the department. 💚

A special shout-out to DJ Loxodrome (aka Dr. Robert Mace) and VÕA (aka Annie Vo) for keeping the good vibes going! 🎶🕺

We loved seeing our Geography & Environmental Studies community come together—and we're already looking forward to everything this semester has in store!

Welcome back, Bobcats! 🐾🌎

🎶🌎 THIS JUST IN… 🎶🌎We’ve got a little something EXTRA planned for our Geography Department Welcome Back Picnic! 👀🎧 Live ...
08/27/2026

🎶🌎 THIS JUST IN… 🎶🌎

We’ve got a little something EXTRA planned for our Geography Department Welcome Back Picnic! 👀

🎧 Live spinning from DJ Loxodrome (aka Dr. Robert Mace)
🎶 and VÕA (aka Annie Vo)!

That's right… our very own Geography crew is bringing the beats to the river!

📅 Tuesday, September 1
⏰ 5–7 p.m.
📍 Espinosa Hall

Good food. Good people. Good vibes. And… DJ Mace & VÕA on the decks. 😎🎧

Come kick off the semester with us! 🌎💙

🌿🌎 Let's Kick Off the Semester — Geography Style! 🌎🌿New semester. New adventures. New faces. Same great Geography crew. ...
08/26/2026

🌿🌎 Let's Kick Off the Semester — Geography Style! 🌎🌿

New semester. New adventures. New faces. Same great Geography crew. 💙

Join us for our Geography Department Welcome Back Picnic as we kick off the year with good food, good people, and a little fun along the river! 🌿☀️

📅 Tuesday, September 1
⏰ 5–7 p.m.
📍 Espinosa Hall — behind Lions Club Tube Rental on the river

Come hungry, come ready to relax, and come meet the faculty, staff, and students who make our department such a special place. 🌎💚

We'll have food, drinks, games, prizes, and a little plant fun to celebrate the start of a new year! 🌱

Whether you're new to Geography or you've been part of the department for years, we'd love to see you there!

Let's make this semester a good one. 🗺️🌱☀️

🦇 Welcome Back, Bobcats! 🌎Looking for a fun way to kick off the semester? The South Texas Geological Society (STGS) is h...
08/25/2026

🦇 Welcome Back, Bobcats! 🌎

Looking for a fun way to kick off the semester? The South Texas Geological Society (STGS) is hosting its inaugural field trip to experience the incredible Bracken Bat Flight!

📅 Friday, September 4
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Bracken Cave

Watch thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Bracken Cave for their evening hunt!

🎟️ Tickets are available now through STGS:
stgs.org

Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience one of the Hill Country's most fascinating natural phenomena! 🦇🌎

From Bobcat Geography student to rainwater innovator! 🌎💧What happens when you combine geography, sustainability, and a n...
08/24/2026

From Bobcat Geography student to rainwater innovator! 🌎💧

What happens when you combine geography, sustainability, and a need for reliable water? For Texas State alum Katie Tritsch, the answer is right at home.

Featured in the latest issue of Hillviews, Tritsch—an undergraduate alum of the TXST Department of Geography—and her husband built a whole-house rainwater harvesting system for their rural Hays County home. Their system captures rain from the roof, stores it in a 25,000-gallon tank, and treats it for household use. Five years later, their home has never run out of water, even through a severe multiyear drought.

The story also highlights research led by Dr. Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, showing that properly designed rainwater harvesting can provide a reliable water supply while helping protect Texas groundwater resources.

It's exciting to see TXST Geography alumni applying what they learned to real-world environmental challenges right here in Central Texas. 🌎💧

📖 Read the full Hillviews story: Texas State University Research Advances Rainwater Harvesting in Texas

🎓 A Milestone Worth Celebrating! 🐾A big Bobcat shout-out to TXST President Kelly Damphousse for highlighting the incredi...
08/20/2026

🎓 A Milestone Worth Celebrating! 🐾

A big Bobcat shout-out to TXST President Kelly Damphousse for highlighting the incredible growth of doctoral education at Texas State University!

Did you know that Geography was the university’s first Ph.D. program, authorized in 1996 after SWT was not permitted to award Ph.D.s for its first 97 years? 🌎

Since then, TXST has continued to grow its doctoral programs—and the momentum is incredible:

🎓 90 Ph.D. graduates last year
🎓 76 the year before
🎓 30 already this year—with December and May still ahead!

With an average of 70 doctoral graduates per year for three years being one of the benchmarks for R1 status, TXST is on track to reach that mark next May!

We are proud to be part of this incredible journey and especially proud of the role Geography has played in the history of doctoral education at Texas State. 🌎💙💛

Keep going, Bobcats! The road to R1 continues!

🌧️💧 SUPPLIED BY THE SKY: The First Rainwater-Sourced Public Water System in Texas ☀️🌎How can innovative water strategies...
08/20/2026

🌧️💧 SUPPLIED BY THE SKY: The First Rainwater-Sourced Public Water System in Texas ☀️🌎

How can innovative water strategies help communities become more sustainable and resilient?

Join the Texas Water Journal for a FREE webinar exploring the Campsite at Shield Ranch and how it is putting One Water into practice through innovative approaches to water management.

🎙️ Presented by:
Jenna Walker and Christina Lopez of the Meadows Center

📅 August 26, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
💻 Free Webinar

Learn more about this innovative 100% off-grid approach—"Power from the Sun, Water from the Clouds"—and the first rainwater-sourced public water system in Texas.

🔗 Register now and join us for this conversation about the future of sustainable water management!

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