Open Research Day Pieces Together Geospatial Science’s Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

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In its third year, GEOG’s Open Research Day showcases and celebrates the impactful work produced by geographical scientists at the University of Maryland.

The Department of Geographical Sciences hosted a dynamic and engaging Open Research Day centered around the theme, "Supporting Sustainable Development Goals through Geospatial Data Science." Held from 2 to 6 p.m. at the River Road Building, the event brought together faculty, students and distinguished guests such as Provost Jennifer King Rice, BSOS Dean Susan Rivera, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Patricio Korzeniewicz, Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Kim Nickerson, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Jean McGloin and Senior Assistant Dean Administration and Finance Anne Holmes, to name a few.

Professor and Department Chair Tatiana Loboda "mapped out the celebration,” providing an overview of the day's celebration and introducing a puzzle challenge with strategically scattered clues throughout the presentations.

The subsequent Masterclasses featured Associate Professor Meredith Gore, Assistant Professor Catherine Nakalembe, Assistant Professor Xiaopeng Song, Assistant Professor Yiqun Xi, and Assistant Professor Laura Duncanson. Their TED Talk-style presentations delved into topics supporting Life on Land (SDG 15), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).

The spotlight then shifted to GEOG’s major programs, including NASA Harvest and NASA Acres with Distinguished University Professor Chris Justice, the Global Land & Discovery (GLAD) lab with Professor Matthew Hansen, the Global Land Programme with Associate Research Professor Ariane de Bremond, and GEDI with Professor Ralph Dubayah. These programs' contributions to a more sustainable future captivated the audience.

photo collage with puzzle winners, halfway puzzle and GLAD monitor
From top right to bottom: Winners of the puzzle challenge Ph.D students Adebowale Daniel Adebayo, Haolin Shao, Shuyu Jin, Jiaxun Sun and Robyn Gausman-Burnett rejoice after completing their 3-D puzzle of R2-D2. Check out the complex work of putting together this puzzle. Bottom photo: A monitor displays a Global Land & Discovery (GLAD) lab interactive map.

Ignite Talks followed, covering diverse topics such as wildlife crime prevention, low carbon transition, crop analytics, biodiversity conservation, poverty mapping, and urban sustainability. A total of 14 graduate students and faculty shared insights into their groundbreaking research related to No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15).

Meanwhile, participants diligently gathered puzzle clues, with the challenge intensifying as pieces accumulated. At the end, group #3 emerged victorious among the five competing groups, earning the privilege to select from a range of exquisite chocolates.

The success of Open Research Day stands as a testament to the department's unwavering commitment to advancing geospatial science while actively contributing to a more sustainable future.

Main photo: Packed conference room on River Road. Photo collage: Top two photos courtesy of Ph.D. Robyn Gausman-Burnett. Bottom photo by Assistant Research Professor Lin Xiong.

 

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Published on Mon, 12/11/2023 - 14:31