KU News Release

KU to host symposium celebrating geography

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will take part in a nationwide celebration of technological advancements in the field of geography on Wednesday, Nov. 14. “GIS Day @ KU,” held at the Kansas Union, will promote evolving tools related to geographic information systems, or GIS.

The event is one of hundreds scheduled in 80 countries highlighting GIS technology. The symposium at KU will include presentations from GIS experts from KU and around the United States, an information fair featuring GIS-related vendors and a student research competition.

GIS Day is part of the National Geographic Society’s Geography Action, a year-long initiative encompassing educational events such as Geography Awareness Week. Each year, approximately 1.5 million students participate in these geography-related activities.

Other sponsors of GIS Day @ KU: the Department of Geography, Kansas Data Access and Support Center, Transportation Research Institute, Institute for Policy and Social Research, Kansas Biological Survey, Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, Kansas View Consortium, Western Air Maps Inc. and Coca-Cola.

KU Libraries supports GIS and data-related research and initiatives for KU students, staff and faculty through its new Scholar Services unit. The unit also provides assistance with numeric, geospatial, statistical and related data while collaborating with researchers, departments, research centers and external entities to develop and deliver electronic information.

“We are thrilled to help raise awareness of the in-depth GIS support available to our faculty and student researchers through GIS Day,” said Rhonda Houser, GIS specialist for KU Libraries.

GIS Day @ KU is free and open to the public. For a detailed schedule of the day’s events or to register to attend, visit the KU Libraries Web site.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.