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UCGIS Summer Assembly – ReportBy Greg Elmes, Communications Committee
At the award ceremony, Mei Po Kwan, The Ohio State University,
At the Council meeting, UCGIS president, officers, and committee chairs reported recent activities and issues of interest and concern to the UCGIS community. The fun moment of the assembly came at the annual UCGIS GIScience Bowl. Hosted by Bowl-Meister, John Wilson, a large number of student teams, with help of their faculty lifelines, competed for the grand prize. A sample of these serious and fun moments at the assembly are captured in an automated slide show with photos contributed by David Tulloch and Nina Lam.
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If environmental determinism holds any truths, then the intellectual achievements
of the 
Following an emphasis on research at the last assembly, it may be a fair assessment
to suggest that the educational mission of UCGIS was at the fore this year. In keeping
with the Education Committee’s focus of extending the body of knowledge of geographic
information science and technology, Dr. Roger Downs, Head of the Department of Geography,
Pennsylvania State University set the tone with a keynote speech titled "Support
for Thinking Spatially: The Incorporation of Geographic Information Science Across
the K-12 Curriculum." Dr. Downs reported on a National Academies, Board of Earth
Science
June 30th began with the research plenary featuring Dr. John Wilson, University
of Southern California “GIS in the City: A GISer’s Guide to Advancing Policy and
Practice.” John provided a number of successful examples of GI inspired research
projects, which have had considerable effect both inside and outside the traditional
scientific community. The assembly also featured a series of six
was recognized
as the UCGIS Researcher of the Year, and David DiBiase, Pennsylvania State University,
was the recipient of the UCGIS Educator of the Year award. Young scholars, Dr. Kevin
M. Curtin, University of Texas at Dallas and Dr. Junchang Ju, Boston University
received the Intergraph Young Scholars Award. Dr. Steven M. Manson, University of
Minnesota and Dr. Xiaobai Yao, University of Georgia received the ESRI Young Scholars
Award. A visibly enthused Zaria Tatalovich, University of Southern California, won
the UCGIS student paper and oral presentation. Congratulations to all students who
participated in a contest with high standards.
Workshops, which are a hallmark of the summer assembly, proved popular. They
were organized around diverse themes including teaching and learning for graduate
students and new faculty members; development of the “Body of Knowledge;” priorities
and action in GIScience policy; promoting GIScience and UCGIS on campus; and opportunities
for sponsored GIScience research. The next edition of the successful virtual seminar
will be on “GIS Ethics.” Students and faculty interested in participating this fall
should contact Dr. David Dibiase.
On the final morning a distinguished panel of five ex-presidents took to the
podium to cast their reflection on the achievements and future directions of UCGIS.
There was a lively and sometimes heated exchange of perspectives regarding the mission
of the organization ten years after its establishment. Debate at UCGIS is alive
and well.
The assembly participants extend thanks to the Research, Education, and Policy
and Legislation committees, lead by Tim Nyerges, Dave DiBiase and John Shuler respectively.
The whole would not have been a success without the tireless efforts and enthusiasm
of Mary Lou Larsen, University of Wyoming, in selecting the outstanding facility
and coordinating local arrangements.