UW-River Falls to celebrate GIS Day with open house

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will celebrate GIS Day with an open house Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the UWRF Geographic Information Science (GIS) Lab, Room 301, Kleinpell Fine Arts, 420 E. Cascade Ave., River Falls. The event is free and open to students, staff and community members interested in learning how mapping technologies are used to solve real-world problems. 

Hosted by the Politics, Geography and International Studies Department, the GIS Day Open House will showcase student research, provide opportunities to meet faculty and highlight the university’s GIS Lab and its role in teaching, research and community engagement.

Featured activities include:

• Student research posters and demonstrations highlighting GIS and geography projects focused on local and global issues.
• A look at the GIS Lab’s new weather station.
• Interactive push-pin maps where visitors can share where they are from, places they hope to visit and favorite campus locations.
• Opportunities to connect with GIS and geography faculty and learn about research, internships and career opportunities in GIS and related fields.
• Complimentary refreshments. 

GIS combines mapping, spatial analysis and data visualization to help organizations better understand patterns, relationships and trends. GIS professionals work in fields including environmental management, urban planning, transportation, public health, agriculture and emergency management.

For more information, email Mathew Dooley or visit the UWRF GIS Lab webpage.

Photo: UW-River Falls Geography Professors John Heppen (left) and Matt Dooley test a new weather station that will be installed as part of the university’s Geographic Information Science (GIS) Lab. The lab will host a GIS Day Open House Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.