Professor Mike Goodchild was recently contacted by alumna Professor Dawn Wright (Oregan State University; Ph.D. in UCSB Physical Geography and Marine Geology, 1994) in her role as Chair of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) Research Award committee: “It is my great pleasure and privilege to inform you that you have been selected as the recipient of the 2010 UCGIS Research Award. This award is given to the creator(s) of a particularly outstanding research work or series of works as published in a peer-reviewed medium, and that makes a significant contribution to geographic information science. Your professional and personal contributions to geographic information science research are highly regarded, and the award committee noted in particular your work on spatial data accuracy in GIS, based on measurement theory and visualizing error. We are therefore extremely pleased to recognize your important accomplishments and continuing contributions!”
To quote the UCGIS web site, “During the last decade rapid growth has occurred in the field of geographic information. With this growth have come diverse notions concerning which direction the field should take. To ensure that a coherent view emerges, a broad representation of universities and professional associations have come together to form the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). The UCGIS mission is to serve as an effective, unified voice for the geographic information science research community, to foster multidisciplinary research and education, and to promote the informed and responsible use of geographic information science and geographic analysis for the benefit of society.” The UCGIS call for nominations states that the UCGIS Research Award is “given to the creator(s) of a particularly outstanding research contribution to Geographic Information Science recognized in 2010; but the contribution could have been made at any time prior to and including 2010. Normally, the Research Award is awarded to author(s) of an outstanding research work or series of works published in a peer-reviewed medium. The committee will also consider other modes of expression of research results, including patents, software packages, and non-refereed publications. Note: This award is NOT for life-time achievement, but for a particular publication or product. Examples of past awardees include Mei-Po Kwan for the outstanding contribution of three landmark papers, Fred Fonseca for the impact of two heavily-cited papers, Max Egenhofer for a landmark 1991 paper, Ron Eastman and the IDRISI group for the 20-year contribution of that product, and Reg Golledge for his AAG presidential address on the nature of geographic knowledge. All researchers worldwide, except for the current members of the Research Award Committee, are eligible for the award.”
Dr. Wright goes on to say, “On behalf of the UCGIS Research Committee and the 2010 UCGIS Research Award committee (consisting of chair and 2009 awardee Hanan Samet, with Peggy Agouris, Kate Beard, Jerry Davis, Jerry Dobson, and Michael Hodgson), I wish to relay our sincere congratulations. We, along with the UCGIS Board and Officers, are honored to present this award to someone with your distinguished record and career accomplishments. We hope that you are willing and able to attend the 2010 UCGIS Summer Assembly on Hilton Head Island, SC, June 15 & 16, in order to accept this award.” Needless to say, all of us at UCSB Geography also extend our sincere congratulations to Mike!
