On November 19, the University of Illinois will join in the worldwide celebration of GIS Day, an annual event that highlights the value of geospatial technology in transforming society and enhancing lives. GIS Day 2014 at Illinois, “Discovering the World through GIS,” will be held at the iHotel and provide opportunities to learn about the contributions of geographic information science (GIS), showcasing work across the University, state, and nation. Topics will include 3D geovisualization, sustainability, precision agriculture, mobile data collection, habitat management, and GIS job opportunities.

Jon Gant, GSLIS research associate professor, is a member of the organizing committee for the University of Illinois event. He is an expert in e-government, geospatial information systems, strategic planning, and information systems and serves as director of the Center for Digital Inclusion at GSLIS, which fosters inclusive and sustainable societies through research, teaching, and public engagement.

During the upcoming spring semester, Gant will teach LIS490GI, Geographic Information Systems. This course focuses on analytical methods that use GIS and the application of these methods to community-based issues, local and national government, and civil society. It offers hands-on learning opportunities, including weekly labs and service learning projects. For more information about the course, please contact the GSLIS Student Affairs.