The Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) has joined forces with the University Consortium for Geographic Information Society (UCGIS) to organize a joint CaGIS and UCGIS conference in Columbus, Ohio, on June 3-6, 2024, replacing the traditional and popular AutoCarto Conferences. The theme of the meeting was Climate Smart GIScience: Mapping a Sustainable Future.
The final program offered 13 research papers, 3 vision statements, 21 lightning talks and 18 posters, two fantastic plenary speakers (Derek Arndt, Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) and Dr. Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist for Climate and Land Use Change, International Programs, U.S. Geological Survey), highlighting the necessity to be aware of the role of cartography and GIScience for climate change awareness and actions.
By participating in a panel on “Climate Smart Growth for Organisations” I was able to discuss and identify issues of responsibility for sustainable actions in an organization like ICA with Kari Craun (CAGIS), Aaron Addison (WGIC), Harvey Miller (UCGIS) and Patricia Carbajales (UCGIS). Ideas included discussion on quantity and quality of meetings, differentiated understanding of the functions of meetings and which format (online, in-person) matches with those functions, attributes of venues (accessibility) and governance of organization in general. ICA is taking its responsibility in this respect serious and will follow this up accordingly.
Georg Gartner giving a keynote at the CAGIS-UCGIS Conference, Columbus, Ohio 2024
As ICA is endorsing this conference as a Regional Cartographic Conference it is of imminent importance, to have the ICA aims and scope being reflected and visible in the program and activities. Also, young scholars have been entitled to apply for an ICA scholarship. A record number of 24 young scholars have benefited from this ICA instrument!
ICA Scholarship Winners on the stage at the CAGIS-UCGIS Conference, Columbus, Ohio 2024 after receiving their awards from Past President Tim Trainor and President Georg Gartner
