Robert W. Christopherson attended California State University Chico for undergraduate work and received his Masters in Geography from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He joined the American River College faculty in 1970, where he founded the geography program. He taught such courses as physical and cultural geography, weather and climate, humans and the environment, and humans in the urban environment from 1970 to 1999, and is currently Professor Emeritus. Robert Christopherson is the recipient of numerous awards, including among others, the Patrons Chair and Student Association Teacher of the Year Awards at his college, most recently the 2005 President's Award and 2005 Textbook Award for Elemental Geosystems , 4/E, from the Text and Academic Authors Association, the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education, the 1998 Textbook Award for Geosystems , 3/E, from TAA, and the California Geographical Society's 1997 Outstanding Educator Award. Robert presented in seminar, television and radio, and research papers on topics such as, the physical geography of the polar regions, global climate change, energy issues, and environmental awareness. He and his professional photographer wife completed 5 polar expeditions, and attended the 2004 Arctic Climate Impact Symposium in Reykjavik, Iceland, to gain photo and video coverage, and research for Geosystems and Elemental Geosystems -his wife has more than 300 exclusive photos in each of these texts.