Instructor: Tom Schmiedeler

No image available Biography:

Tom Schmiedeler is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University where he taught a variety of geography courses including Kansas Geography, Geography of Europe and World Regional Geography. He was the director of Washburn's Center for Kansas Studies. Tom has master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Kansas and has published widely on historical geography topics, particularly frontier urban planning.

Classes by this instructor


Geography of the British Northern Isles: Orkney, Shetland & Outer Hebrides

Have you ever wanted to play the game of Ba', walk the Ring of Broghdar, sit in a Black House, smell a peat fire, speak Orcadian or sail Scapa Flow? If the answer is yes, come aboard the ferry departing from the Scottish mainland on Nov. 3 for Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. We will explore the physical, economic and cultural geography of these fantastic islands. After an introduction to the geography of Highland Scotland, we will discuss topics such as archaeology (why Orkney is the "Egypt of the North"), land tenure (clans, crofts and clearances), ecology (the machair) and economies (sheep and oil) of each of the three island groups. Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.
November 3-17, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online