Penn State to celebrate International GIS Day

GIS Day, the annual, worldwide salute to geospatial technology and its power to transform and better lives, is coming to Penn State on Wednesday, Nov. 19, during Geography Awareness Week, Nov. 16 to 22. The University Libraries and the Department of Geography are co-sponsoring the event to raise awareness of geospatial information, the many possibilities and opportunities of geographic information systems (GIS) and activities related to GIS at University Park.

Activities include:

  • Information Fair, 1 to 4 p.m., in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, with demonstrations of real-world applications of GIS that make a difference in society.
  • Poster Display, 1 to 5 p.m., Franklin Atrium, first floor Pattee Library, a showcase of GIS research activities at Penn State.
  • GIS Networking Reception, 4 to 5 p.m., Social Sciences Library, 208 Paterno Library, with refreshments and an opportunity to meet and greet each other. This is an opportunity to meet and greet the GIS services team for the Data Learning Center.

The first formal GIS day occurred in 1999, to show how GIS applications use a combination of hardware, software and people to enhance understanding of geographic data to create informed decisions and explanations for the phenomena and events around us. GIS has a 20–year history at Penn State.

Groups represented at this year’s event will include Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA), Geographic Information Analysis (GIA), Core of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), geodesign graduate degree programs, Office of the Physical Plant (OPP) and groups from the Department of Geography, such as the Gould Center, GIS Coalition and the Online Geospatial Program.

The program is free and open to the public, and students, staff and faculty are urged to attend to learn about GIS and the many applications. For additional information on GIS Day, see the website.

For more information or if you anticipate needing accessibility accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Tara LaLonde, GIS specialist, at tll38@psu.edu or 814-863-5753.