Harm de Blij
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Harm Jan de Blij (pronounced /də ˈbleɪ/ "duh BLAY") (born Oct 9, 1935, Rotterdam) is a Dutch-born American geographer.
Author, professor and television personality, Harm de Blij for seven years was the geography editor on ABC's "Good Morning America." In 1996 he joined NBC News as Geography Analyst, appearing mostly on MSNBC. He was writer of and commentator for the original PBS Series "The Power of Place." He is a former editor of National Geographic magazine and the author of several books, including Why Geography Matters.
Born in the Netherlands, de Blij has a unique range of educational experiences. He received his early schooling in Europe (part of it during the Second World War as recounted in his memoir Wartime Encounter), his college education in Africa, and his higher degrees (Ph.D., Northwestern) in the United States. His scholarly work has been recognized through honorary degrees awarded by Marshall University, Rhode Island College, Grand Valley State University, North Carolina State University, and Michigan State University.
Dr. de Blij has published more than 30 books including scientific, educational, and trade titles, and over 100 articles. His most recent trade book, Why Geography Matters (Oxford University Press, 2005) argues that America's persistent geographic illiteracy constitutes a national security risk. His textbook Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts (Wiley) has exceeded 1 million copies in 12 editions since 1970. Another book, Wine: a Geographic Appreciation (Rowman & Allanheld) was a bestseller during the 1980s and was awarded a medal by the French wine organization, OIV, in Paris. His books have been translated into several foreign languages.
He specializes in geopolitical and environmental issues, and has held named chairs at Georgetown University, Marshall University, and the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. de Blij currently is Distinguished Professor of Geography at Michigan State University, where he also taught throughout the decade of the 1960s. In the interim, he chaired the Geography Department at the University of Miami and served as editor at the National Geographic Society. His advocacy of Geography in the media and on the public lecture circuit has taken him to virtually all corners of the United States; his work in research, teaching, and television has spanned the globe. In 1994 National Geographic Society President Gilbert Grosvenor appointed Dr. de Blij an Honorary Life Member of the Society.
