Geographic information science (GIScience) has always centered on the dual objectives of developing the basic scientific foundations needed to understand the world through the collection, analysis, and representation of spatial data, and the creation of the technological tools needed for that task. In recent years, the discipline has experienced a period of rapid tool and technology development particularly around the emergence of GeoAI. Paralleling these developments in GIScience, there has been a period of conceptual development across the social and environmental sciences in causal inference. While the pattern-process approach to spatial analysis uses the tools and concepts of GIScience to describe spatial patterns of objects and events, it remains challenging to make inferences about the causal mechanisms generating those patterns.

Within the geographic and spatial statistical literature a series of recent papers have discussed causal paradigms, introduced new spatial statistical techniques, and generally deployed methods of quantitative causal analysis to answer geographic questions. However, a robust discussion of causal inference and its connection to core concepts and questions in GIScience has yet to appear in the literature. We invite colleagues to contribute to an interactive discussion session about the connections between GIScience and causal inference. Discussion topics will include whether GIScience has a unique contribution to make to the causal literature, if the current conceptual and technical foundations of GIScience are prepared to support causal analysis, and what a GIScience curriculum designed to prepare students to undertake causal analyses would look like.

Speakers

Lei Song

University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Kedron

University of California Santa Barbara

Wednesday June 25, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
TBA

Presentations, Roundtable

12:00pm MDT

UCGIS Council Meeting and Lunch

Wednesday June 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm MDT

TBA

Wednesday June 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm MDT
TBA

Meeting

1:30pm MDT

From Student to GIS Pro: GIS Career Readiness Workshop

Wednesday June 25, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

TBA

Join us for a workshop for strategies on seeking mentorship, building your professional network, investing in your professional development and navigating the exciting world of GIS careers. You will hear from the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN) and how to access and leverage their Mentor Network. Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) will cover the power of networking and strategies to establish a strong support system and grow your presence in the GIS community. GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) will discuss leveraging the PreGISP exam for your own professional development and to jumpstart your GIS career. GISphere will cover resources and opportunities for GIS scholars. To wrap up, you'll participate in an interactive networking activity, giving you the chance to refine your skills and forge meaningful connections.

Presenters:
Hannah Walters
hannahw5280@gmail.com
GIS Analyst, Denver Water
Affiliation: Geospatial Professionals Network (GPN)

Austin Stone
Astone@esri.com
Account Manager – Education, Esri
Affiliation: Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN)

Jochen Albrecht
Jochen.albrecht@gmail.com
Professor for Computational and Theoretical Geography and Graduate Adviser, Hunter College CUNY
Affiliation: GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

Armita Kar
akar3@gmu.edu
Assistant Professor, Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Affiliation: GISphere

Wednesday June 25, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
TBA

Presentations, Panel discussion

1:30pm MDT

Professional Papers: Modeling and Analysis Applications

Wednesday June 25, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

TBA

Hasan Raja Naqvi: Longitudinal Assessment of NO 2 , SO 2 , CO, and Aerosol Air Pollutants with Special Reference to Stubble Burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plains Using Geospatial Data and HYSPLIT Modelling

Guiming Zhang: Geographic proximity and homophily effects drive social interactions within VGI communities: An example of iNaturalist

Masahiko Haraguchi: Guiding Directions for City-Scale Digital Twins: Enhancing Inclusive and Participatory Hazard Planning

Chen Xu: Modeling Wyoming Population Mobility Dynamics with a Graph Neural Network

Speakers

Guiming Zhang

Assistant Professor, University of Denver

Hasan Raja Naqvi

Department of Geography, Faculty of Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

Masahiko Haraguchi

Columbia University/ Harvard University

Chen Xu

University of Wyoming

Wednesday June 25, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
TBA

Presentations, Professional papers

3:00pm MDT

Break

Wednesday June 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

TBA

Wednesday June 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
TBA

Social Event, Networking Break

3:30pm MDT

Past Presidents' Panel

Wednesday June 25, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

TBA

Wednesday June 25, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
TBA

Presentations, Panel discussion

3:30pm MDT

Professional Papers: Teaching and Learning

Wednesday June 25, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

TBA

Margo Berendsen: Incorporating spatial thinking into a GIST undergraduate course and measures of learners’
spatial abilities, spatial thinking, and GIS interaction.

Diana Sinton: I-GUIDE’s Approaches to Supporting the Geospatial Data Science Community

Robert E. Roth: Making Mapping for a Sustainable World: An Open Source Textbook for Teaching Cartography
through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Speakers