UCGIS Awards

Research  |  Early/Mid-Career ResearchEducation  |  Carolyn Merry Mentoring | Service

The UCGIS Awards Program identifies and honors members of our geospatial community who have extraordinary records of accomplishments, including service to the mission of UCGIS. Scholars worldwide can be nominated for any of these awards, but the nominations themselves can only come from individuals affiliated with current UCGIS member institutions.  


UCGIS Research Awards

UCGIS offers two research awards, the Research Award, and the Early/Mid-Career Research Award.

Our Research Award is given to an individual who has made a particularly outstanding research contribution to geographic information science. This may include an outstanding peer-reviewed research work, or series of works, though other modes of expression will be considered, including patents, software packages, and non-refereed publications. This award is not for lifetime achievement, but for a single contribution or a series of research works that are seminal and have significant impacts on Geographic Information Science community, made at any time prior to the award year.

Award Criteria: All researchers worldwide are eligible for the award. Current members of the Research Committee or other individuals currently holding an elected or appointed UCGIS leadership position are not eligible during their tenure with UCGIS. Nominees need not be affiliated with a UCGIS member institution.

Nominators must be delegates or members of a UCGIS member institution, former Research Award winners, or a UCGIS Fellow. UCGIS particularly encourages nominations from under-represented and marginalized groups.

2023 Nominations are now closed  

Nomination Process

To nominate a researcher for the award, please prepare the following documents:

  1. A letter that details the specific research contribution to GIScience for which the nominee is being nominated, including a justification for why this contribution is deserving of the Award (3 pages or less).
  2. A current CV for the nominee, or a link to a current one online.
  3. At least one letter of support (not from the nominator) with additional letters optional.

Review Process: The main criterion for choosing the awardee(s) is impacts of the research achievement on the theory and/or practice of GIScience or geographic information technology. The Research Award Committee reserves the right not to make an award in a given year. The award will be presented during the 2023 UCGIS Symposium.

The deadline to submit a nomination is March 31, 2023.

UCGIS Research Award Recipients

Alan MacEachren photo
2022
Helena Mitasova NCSU
2020
Serge Rey
2016
Hanan Samet
Hanan Samet
2009
Frederico Fonseca
2006
2004

 

Our Early/Mid-Career Research Award is given to an individual who has made a particularly outstanding research contribution to geographic information science. This may include an outstanding peer-reviewed research work, or series of works, though other modes of expression will be considered, including patents, software packages, and non-refereed publications. This award is not for lifetime achievement, but for a single contribution or a series of research works that are seminal and have significant impacts on Geographic Information Science community, made at any time prior to the award year. 

Eligibility: All researchers in the Early/Mid-Career level that is 15 years or less after the terminal degree or within 15 years of accumulated professional service, worldwide are eligible for the award. Current members of the Research Committee or other individuals currently holding an elected or appointed UCGIS leadership position are not eligible during their tenure with UCGIS. Nominees need not be affiliated with a UCGIS member institution.

Nominators must be delegates or members of a UCGIS member institution, former Research Award winners, or a UCGIS Fellow. UCGIS particularly encourages nominations from under-represented and marginalized groups.

2023 Nominations are now closed   

Nomination Process

To nominate a researcher for the award, please prepare the following documents:

  1. A letter that details the specific research contribution to GIScience for which the nominee is being nominated, including a justification for why this contribution is deserving of the Award (3 pages or less).
  2. A current CV for the nominee, or a link to a current one online.
  3. At least one letter of support (not from the nominator) with additional letters optional.

Review Process: The main criterion for choosing the awardee(s) is innovative ideas or methods that lead to impacts of research on the theory and/or practice of GIScience or geographic information technology. The Research Award Committee reserves the right not to make an award in a given year. The award will be presented during the 2023 UCGIS Symposium.

The deadline to submit a nomination is March 31, 2023.

UCGIS Early/Mid-Career Research Award Recipients

       

 

UCGIS Education Awards

UCGIS offers two education awards, for Lifetime Achievement and for Innovation, that alternate biennially.

The UCGIS Lifetime Achievement in GIScience Education Award (offered in odd years) is intended to recognize a career of professional contributions of both national and international significance to GIScience education. Such contributions may be reflected in (but not limited to):

  • Demonstrated excellence in GIScience instruction and pedagogy via traditional, formal, informal as well as new educational delivery methods
  • Enhancing public awareness of GIScience
  • Mentoring of students who pursue careers in GIScience related professions
  • Leadership in GIScience curriculum and learning materials development (e.g. textbooks, websites, and learning technology)
  • Publications or other markers of significant scholarship concerned with GIScience education
  • Leadership in the development of GIScience education policy

2023 Nominations are now closed   

Eligibility: All educators worldwide are eligible for the award (excluding current members of the Education Award Committee or other individuals currently holding an elected UCGIS leadership position). Nominees need not be affiliated with a UCGIS member institution.

Nomination process: Nominations for the award can only be made by individuals from UCGIS member institutions. Self-nominations are permitted. To nominate an educator for the award, prepare the following documents:

  1. A letter that details the specific contributions to GIScience education for which the nominee is being nominated, including a justification for why this contribution is deserving of the Award (3 pages or less);
  2. A current CV for the nominee, or a link to a current one online;
  3. Additional letters of support are welcome but not required.
Review process: The main criterion for choosing the awardee(s) is demonstrated excellence in scholarship and/or the practice of GIScience education. The Education Award Committee, comprised of members of the Education Committee, reserves the right not to make an award in a given year. The award will be presented during the 2023 UCGIS Symposium.
The deadline to submit a nomination is March 31, 2023.

Recipients of the UCGIS Lifetime Achievement in GIScience Education Award
(formerly known as the UCGIS Education Award)

Joseph Kerski
2021 
Ken Foote
2013
William Huxhold
2012
Karen Kemp
2004
   

The UCGIS Innovation in GIScience Education Award was first offered in 2020, and will continue to be offered in even-numbered years. The award was designed for individuals who have contributed outstanding innovations to GIScience education. The award is intended to recognize innovative contributions of both national and international significance to GIScience education. GIS education innovations may include, but are not limited to:

  • Implementing new ways to be inclusive and equitable in GIS Education, including access to geospatial technologies, including desktop, cloud, or high-performance computing.
  • Developing innovative learning techniques (online and/or in classrooms or beyond).
  • Enabling students to analyze new types of geospatial data or use emerging geospatial technologies (for example, mining geospatial content in social media, using cyberinfrastructure, or collecting data using drones).
  • Developing opportunities that enable students to create rapid turn-around results to meet pressing community needs (e.g., developing protocols and strategies that allow students to quickly assist non-profit organizations or government entities in local emergencies)
  • Creating curricula or coursework that embed opportunities for GIS students to participate in finding solutions to global crises (e.g., disease outbreaks, refugee crises, UN Sustainable Environment Goals, or Wicked Problems).
  • Equipping GIS students to effectively disseminate authoritative geospatial scientific findings regarding complex societal issues (e.g., through training in science communication or visualization).
Eligibility: All educators worldwide are eligible for the award (excluding current members of the Education Award Committee or other individuals currently holding an elected UCGIS leadership position). Nominees need not be affiliated with a UCGIS member institution.

Nomination process: Nominations for the award can only be made by individuals from UCGIS member institutions. Self-nominations are permitted. To nominate an educator for the award, prepare the following documents:

  1. A letter that details the specific contributions to GIScience education for which the nominee is being nominated, including a justification for why this contribution is deserving of the Award (3 pages or less);
  2. A current CV for the nominee, or a link to a current one online;
  3. Additional letters of support are welcome but not required.
Review process: The main criterion for choosing the awardee(s) is demonstrated innovation in scholarship and/or the practice of GIScience education. The Education Award Committee, comprised of members of the Education Committee, reserves the right not to make an award in a given year. 

 

Recipients of the UCGIS Innovation in GIScience Education Award:

Global GIScience Education Community Wins Innovation Award 
GIScience Education Community  
2020, post-COVID

       


 

Carolyn Merry Mentoring Award 

The Carolyn Merry Mentoring Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional mentoring abilities and practices. Dr. Carolyn Merry, a professor emerita of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University, embodied the spirit of a mentor by sharing her wisdom and experience with colleagues, particularly junior scholars, as a scientist, educator, and academic leader. In addition to leadership roles as department chair at her university and president of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), she served from 2002 to 2004 on the executive committee of UCGIS. While UCGIS President, Carolyn’s leadership style reflected her strengths as a mentor. During and after meetings, she was known for her engagement with participants and careful listening during every conversation.

The goal of the Carolyn Merry Mentoring Award is to recognize her commitment to mentoring and the investment of others who share this philosophy.  Evidence of exceptional mentoring service may include (but not be limited to):

  • Distinguishing characteristics of mentoring activities such as: 
    • Offering sound counsel and valuable information that positively advances the career of mentees;
    • Generously sharing his/her time to evaluate and critique scholarship and/or instruction; 
    • Publicly promoting the activities of the mentee;
    • Involving mentees in research projects such as grants and publications; 
    • Behaving as a role model by promoting excellence within the discipline and to the broader community;
  • The reach and long-term impact of the mentoring efforts;
  • The efforts made toward supporting women and other underrepresented minorities involved with GIScience.

Eligibility: Individuals worldwide are eligible for the award (excluding any individuals currently holding an elected or appointed UCGIS leadership position). Nominees need not be affiliated with a UCGIS member institution, though nominators must be. UCGIS particularly encourages nominations from minority and under-represented groups.

2023 Nomination Form  

Nomination process: Nominations for the award can only be made by individuals from UCGIS member institutions (www.ucgis.org/members). To nominate an individual for the Mentoring Award, prepare the following documents:

  1. A nomination letter that details the ways in which the nominee has demonstrated excellence in mentoring (<3 pages),
  2. One or two other letters of support from an additional colleague (maximum of two), and
  3. A current CV for the nominee, or a link to where a current one is online.

Review process: The main criterion for choosing the awardee is demonstrated impact on and commitment to mentoring activities. The Mentoring Award Review Committee reserves the right to not make an award in a given year. The award will be presented during the 2023 UCGIS Symposium.

The deadline to submit a nomination is March 31, 2023.

UCGIS Carolyn Merry Mentoring Award Recipients

Libby Wentz photo

Libby Wentz
2022

Beth King photo

Beth King
2021

Sara McLafferty UIUC

Sara McLafferty
2020

Guido Cervone

Guido Cervone
2019

Keith Clarke

Keith Clarke
2018

Budhu Bhaduri

Budhu Bhaduri
2017

Nina Lam LSU

Nina Lam
2016

     


UCGIS Service Awards

The Service Award, first established by the UCGIS Board of Directors in 2014, recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth, development and ongoing success of the organization. This Award is made only at the discretion of the UCGIS President. 

UCGIS Service Award Recipients

Diana Sinton

Diana S. Sinton
2021

Tim Nyerges

Timothy Nyerges 
2014

Laxmi Ramasubramanian photo

Laxmi Ramasubramanian
2014