We are excited to share a recent publication by Dr. Matthew E. Fagan, Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at UMBC, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

In "The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets," Dr. Fagan and co-authors Naomi B. Schwartz and Ruth S. DeFries examine how global remote-sensing data are increasingly used to analyze Earth's systems at unprecedented scales. The article highlights both the power and the limitations of these datasets, emphasizing the importance of transparency, uncertainty awareness, and appropriate application in scientific research and decision making.

The authors outline three key considerations for responsible use of global datasets:

• What we map, including blind spots and sociocultural biases in data coverage
• How we map, focusing on model uncertainty and transferability across regions
• Where we make inferences, particularly the risks of drawing fine-scale conclusions from coarse-resolution data

This work calls for stronger best practices, improved metadata, and clearer communication of uncertainties to ensure global datasets are used responsibly and equitably.

Read the full article: The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets

We're thrilled to share that Adriana Maria DiSilvestro, PhD Candidate and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, has published a new article in Antipode, a leading journal of radical geography.

Article Title:
Before the Conservation Fix: Ecological Displacement and the Making of Nature as Regulatory Subject

Read the full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anti.70082

In this paper, Adriana draws from her master's research on wolf culling as a state response to caribou declines to explore how tensions between resource extraction and ecological protection shape environmental solutions. She writes:

"In this paper, I draw from my master's research on wolf culling as a state response to caribou declines to explore how tensions between resource extraction and ecological protection shape environmental solutions. Insights from this work continue to inspire my doctoral project on the regulatory politics of endangered species governance in the United States."

Please join us in congratulating Adriana on this outstanding accomplishment!

Three weeks from now, UMBC’s AOK library will be hosting a public screening for the upcoming documentary “Hiding in the Walls.” Centered on environmental justice in Baltimore, the film focuses on a lead poisoning epidemic that disproportionately affects poor neighborhoods and communities of color. Historical discriminatory practices planted the seed for this silent killer, and there is an unfortunate air of acceptance, rather than outrage, that has allowed lead poisoning to perpetuate in urban areas. The filmmakers provide firsthand accounts of adult survivors whose lives are irreparably, and unjustly, impacted. “Hiding in the Walls” is an enriching film for those wanting to become more educated on environmental justice issues in our own community.

“Hiding in the Walls” won Best Feature Film at the 2022 Social and Economic Justice Film Festival and the 2022 Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking.

The documentary will be screened in the library on Tuesday, October 22^nd at 6:00 pm. There is no admission fee. The filmmakers will be present for a Q&A once the film is finished, and refreshments will be offered throughout. Non-GES students are of course welcome, so spread the word!

For more information about “Hiding in the Walls,” you can visit the following link. You may also stream the documentary for free on Kanopy with your university log-in info: https://www.silentmediagroup.com/hiding-in-the-walls

Here’s my advice as a fourth-year GES student: Take GES 386 as soon as possible! 386 is notorious for filling up quickly during the Fall and Spring semesters. Luckily, if you’ve already taken 286 or if you’re a grad student, you can beat the crowd!

Professor Kaylor will be teaching two sections of GES 386 during UMBC’s Summer Session II. One section will meet on Tuesday and Thursday at 1pm, and the other on Monday and Wednesday at 4:30pm. Each meeting will last about 2.5 hours with additional time allotted for working on assignments in the computer lab.

GES 386: “Introduction to GIS” explores analytical tools and workflows that will give you the foundational skills to excel in GIS. The six-week time frame will make the work schedule more compressed, but there will be ample time for group collaboration and one-on-one time with the professor and TA.

The typical class meeting will include discussions of ongoing and past assignments, a lecture or demonstration of new material, and lab (computer) time. Work can be done independently or in small groups based on that week’s topic. Lab assignments can be completed at home or in-person; you can make that decision based on your schedule and what environment you work best in.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Charlie Kaylor at ckaylor@umbc.edu. He is more than happy to work with you to reach your goals!

The GES Department invites you to attend Molly Finch’s thesis presentation. Molly is a member of UMBC’s ICARE program and a GIS professional working for conservation nonprofits. Her research explores President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and its local implications. Looking at how federal environmental funds have been distributed in the past can offer solutions to meet current environmental goals (i.e., greening projects) in Baltimore.

Listen in as two professors in our GIS Graduate Program, Dillon Mahmoudi and Ron Wilson, discuss the transformative role of AI for GIS professionals and students. The rapid pace at which AI has infiltrated classrooms also requires students and teachers alike to adapt to a new technological environment. Mahmoudi and Wilson offer their stances on the applications and limitations of AI, and they stress the importance of equipping students with the skills to tactfully integrate AI into their work.

A huge thank-you to Denise Cardona for hosting the podcast and giving us this great platform! You can watch/listen to the podcast at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ9ZaOdj6h8