Research Interests

I am a regional, rural geographer who uses field work and maps to find patterns and trends that help explain why the landscape is changing.  Most of my research has involved some aspect of the changing rural geographies of the Midwest/Corn Belt/Heartland region of the U.S., most recently focusing on how both natural and human driving forces are affecting land use in South Dakota and how that, in turn, affects the biogeography of ring-necked pheasants and their habitat.  Throughout my research I have worked extensively in cooperation with local and state agencies (soil & water districts, state-level fish & game departments).  I rely on GIS and remote sensing and use them as tools to assist me in being able to show the results of my research in a clear and meaningful way so everyone from leading scientists to local stake-holders will be able to understand and learn from those results.  I love to learn, I love to travel, and I love to be out in the field experiencing first-hand this world on which we live.

1. -Regional (Bio)geography
   

2. -Rural Geography
   

3. -Agricultural Geography
   

4. -Drivers of Land Use & Land Cover Change
   

5. -Coupled Human & Natural Systems
   

Education 

1. -2009:  PhD, Geography, Kansas State University    
   

2. -2003:  MS, Geography, South Dakota State University
   

3. -2000:  BS, Geography, South Dakota State University
   

Current CV

1. -Curriculum Vitae
   

Recent Publications

1. -Laingen, C.R.  2009.  How Human and Natural Driving Forces Affect Pheasants and Pheasant Hunting in South Dakota.  Focus on Geography 51(3): 23-31  (PDF)
   

2. -Napton, D.E., and C.R. Laingen.  2008.  Expansion of Golf Courses in the United States.  The Geographical Review 98(1): 24-41  (PDF)
   

Useful Websites

Geography-Related

1. -Association of American Geographers (AAG)
   

2. -West Lakes Regional Division of the AAG 2009 Meeting
   

3. -The American Geographical Society
   

4. -EIU Department of Geology/Geography
   

5. -Google Maps
   

6. -Google Earth (website for download)
   

7. -USGS Land Cover Trends Project
   

Rural / Agriculture / Conservation

1. -USDA Census of Agriculture
   

2. -National Ag. Statistics Service
   

3. -Pheasants Forever
   

4. -Ducks Unlimited
   

5. -Conservation Reserve Program & Statistics
   

Weather & Climate

1. -Charleston, IL Weather (NOAA)
   

2. -The Weather Channel

Assistant Professor

Department of Geology/Geography

Eastern Illinois University

600 Lincoln Avenue

Charleston, Illinois  61920

Office:  2420 Physical Science Building

Phone:  1-217-581-2999

Fax:  1-217-581-6613

Email:  crlaingen[at]eiu.edu

Conducting “field work” in Ireland, 2008

Teaching Schedule / Office Hrs.

1. -Semester Schedule (PDF)
   

Fall 2009 Courses

1. -ESC 1400:  Weather & Climate
   

2. -GEG/ESC 3200:  Human Impacts on the Environment
   

3. -GEG 4000:  Biogeography
   

Spring 2010 Courses

1. -GEG 1400:  Weather & Climate
   

2. -GEG 4000:  Natural Resource Conservation
   

All Courses Taught

1. -GEG 1400:  Weather & Climate
   

2. -GEG 3200:  Human Impacts on the Environment
   

3. -GEG 4000:  Biogeography
   

4. -GEG 4000:  Natural Resource Conservation
   

5. -GEG xxxx:   Agricultural Geography
   

Helpful Resources for Students

1. -How to give a good presentation
   

2. -Google Scholar
   

3. -EIU & Integrative Learning

Go To EIU Geology/Geography

About Me

Student Resources

Recent Travels

2009 College World Series (June ’09)

South Dakota Badlands (July ’09)

Butterfield, MN Threshing Bee (August ’09)