GIS Centre’s Lunchless Learn Series Returns

September 13, 2013 Marlo MacKay

What is a Lunchless Learn? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all on campus (without the food).

A GIS, or Geographic Information System, is “a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data relating to positions on earth’s surface” In other words, it’s an easy and fun way to look at the world differently.

This series gives people a taste of what GIS is and how it can be used. We are offering the same session at different times and locations, so choose the one that fits your schedule best. These sessions are meant to be self contained; after the intro session–take only the topics that are of interest to you.

Due to the high level of interest in these sessions, we ask you to sign up for each session at http://gisdata.library.dal.ca/workshop/ If you encounter any problems signing up, or if have any other questions, contact gis@dal.ca

Intro – First Encounters of the GIS Kind
Wed., Sept. 18/12:30-2 p.m. Room G70, Killam Library
Mon., Sept. 23/12-1:30 p.m. Room C300, C Building, Sexton Campus
Wed., Oct. 2/1:30-3 p.m. Room G70, Killam Library

Data: So You Want to Make a Map – where and how to find data
Mon., Oct. 7/12-2 p.m. Room C300, C Building, Sexton Campus
Tues., Oct. 15/11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Room G70, Killam Library

Raster – How to Become a Raster Master
Mon., Oct. 21/12-1:30 p.m. Room C300, C Building, Sexton Campus
Wed., Oct. 30/1:30-3 p.m. Room G70, Killam Library

Carto: Maps – the good, the bad, and the ugly
Mon., Nov. 4/12-1:30 p.m. Room C300, C Building, Sexton Campus
Wed., Nov. 13/1:30-3 p.m. G70, Killam Library

And don’t forget that the GISciences Centre is located on the second floor of the Killam Library.

James Boxall, Recipient of the 2012 Literacy Award

October 19, 2012 Marlo MacKay

The Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS) has announced it is presenting the 2012 Literacy Award to the director of the GISciences Centre, James Boxall.

James Boxall, director of the GISciences Centre, located in the Killam Library.

The award will be given at the RCGS fellows dinner on November 7 in Ottawa. The award includes $5,000; half of which is donated to a charity of choice. James has expressed a desire to create a foundation to support K-12 teachers who wish to train in using geographic information systems (GIS) with their students.

James is the recipient of this award due to his work over the last 25 years to support and enhance geographic and spatial education at all levels. From 1991 to 1993, James was the original proponent in developing the Canadian Council for Geographic Education and has been actively working with not only our own Dalhousie community, in geography and GIS courses and through the development of the GISciences Centre, but also in the K-12 sector with teachers and schools wanting to develop skills in spatial learning.

When asked about the connection of this to Dalhousie and the Dal Libraries, James remarked, “Those who know the history of geography at Dalhousie know that much of the work that happened outside of our community ended up playing a role in moving things along on campus. Also, it makes sense because with the work we do in teaching and research, you simply have to look back at the foundation of the discipline—in 200BCE the chief librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria, Eratosthenes, founded the field of geography, developed latitude and longitude, and accurately measured the circumference of the Earth. We are simply trying to keep up with that tradition of geography librarians enhancing spatial learning.”

Congratulations on this honour James, from everyone at the Dalhousie Libraries.

GISciences Centre Gets Special Achievement Award

May 18, 2012 Tina Usmiani

The Dalhousie University GISciences Centre is to be presented the 2012 ESRI Inc. Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the upcoming ESRI Inc. International Conference in San Diego. The award is given to user sites around the world to recognize outstanding work with GIS technology.

The Dal GISciences Centre is the only Canadian group awarded this year; they were also presented with the 2007 Award of Excellence, given by the President of ESRI Canada Alex Miller. The GISciences Centre is in select company as it was one of over 100,000 potential nominees. The Centre is being awarded the 2012 SAG based upon years of service and promotion of GIS, geography, and spatial analysis within the academic community at Dalhousie and beyond.

Founded in 2005, the GISciences Centre has provided access to data, software, training, courses, analysis, and field schools. The Director of the Centre, James Boxall, stated upon hearing the news of the award: “It really is about the staff and students who have made the Centre what it is. They are the basis for the recognition, and we are all honoured by this award.” Staff and students currently working with Boxall in the Centre are: Jennifer Strang, Ray Jahncke, Max Lapierre, Jennifer Charney and Jennifer Grek-Martin. Boxall also notes that the Centre has helped promote the growth of spatial learning at Dalhousie and collaboration amongst government, the private sector and other educational institutions. “The result of this has been that Dalhousie has created – in a very short time – the largest user community of GIS within higher education in Canada. This means more GIS-related work across faculties and disciplines, and more students and faculty exposed to using GIS in teaching and research. Yet we feel we have only begun!”

And this just in: Max Lapierre, GIS student intern, has just been awarded a $2500 prize from ESRI Canada for his continuing studies in the application of GIS for planning and facilities. Congratulations all around!

Change to Map Collection Plotter Prices

November 3, 2011 Tina Usmiani

Please be advised that effective November 7, there will be a slight increase in the printing costs of the plotter in the Map Collection. New pricing is as follows:

Draft paper: $8/linear foot
Matte paper: $9/linear Foot
Semi-gloss paper: $10/linear foot

Please visit the Map Collection Services website for more information.

GIS Centre Lunchless Learn Series

September 23, 2011 Tina Usmiani

What is a ‘Lunch-less Learn’, you may ask? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all on campus–without the food!

This series is offered by the GIS Centre to help give people a taste of what GIS is and how it can be used. We are repeating sessions at different times and locations to accommodate as many people as possible.

Due to the high level of interest, we ask you to sign up by emailing gis@dal.ca

Intro – First Encounters of the GIS Kind
September 27
1:00 – 2:30pm
Killam Library Room G70

So You Want to Make a Map: Where and How to Find Data
October 6
noon – 2:00pm
Killam Library – G70

So You Want to Make a Map: Where and How to Find Data
October 11
noon – 2:00pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

GPS – Where on Earth Am I?
October 20
12:00-2:00pm
Killam Library Room G70 (some outside work)

How to Become a Raster Master
October 25
noon – 1:30pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

How to Become a Raster Master
November 1
1:00 – 2:30pm
Killam Library Room G70

Maps – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
November 8
12:00-1:30pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

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