Please send any news, announcements, and citations to mcohn@illinois.edu by noon on Monday for publication in the same week’s issue.

Colloquium: Intelligent Spatial Decision Support Systems in the Era of Big Data and CyberGIS
Zhe Zhang, CyberInfrastructure and Geospatial Information (CIGI) Lab
Friday, January 26th, 3:00 p.m. (coffee/reception at 3:00)
Room 2049 NHB - Russell Seminar Room
Geographical and geospatial information sciences have been undergoing dramatic digital transformations, which has fueled the development of cyberGIS as a new generation of geospatial information sciences and systems (GIS) based on advanced cyberinfrastructure during the recent decade. While spatial decision support systems (SDSSs) have been well studied in the context of GIS and various related domains, new challenges and opportunities have arisen with regard to transforming SDSSs into intelligent capabilities for complex geospatial problem solving and decision making. This presentation therefore discusses a vision of intelligent SDSS through synergistically harnessing the power of big data and cyberGIS. A particular type of intelligent SDSS capabilities has been developed for resolving spatial decision uncertainties based on expert knowledge and fuzzy modeling approaches. Multiple case studies in the context of emergency management were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of such capabilities and how to exploit big data and cyberGIS for future advances of intelligent SDSS.

Mixer | Co-sponsored by the Illinois Cartographic Society & Geography Graduate Student Association
Monday, February 5th, 7:00 p.m.
Room 2049 NHB - Russell Seminar Room
An opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students to interact and foster connections within the department. Graduate students are invited to attend to answer questions about their research in geography, and undergraduates are encouraged to attend and ask questions. Food will be available.

School of Earth, Society, and Environment (SESE) Research Review
Friday, March 2nd, 2:00 p.m.
Room 3083 NHB - SESE Core
RSVP
Each year, the SESE Research Review brings together the departments of the School of Earth, Society & Environment to share exciting research and promote networking among attendees.

Professor Mei-Po Kwan has been awarded the 2018 Stanley Brunn Award for Creativity in Geography, by the American Assocation of Geographers (AAG).
From AAG: "This award is bestowed annually on an individual geographer or team that has demonstrated originality, creativity, and significant intellectual breakthroughs in geography. The award honors those who have a sustained, impressive and recognized record of creative and cutting-edge work, who have made significant contributions to new geographic methods or ways of thinking, or who have introduced new and meaningful ways of thinking about human/environment relations at local or global scales.

On Friday, January 19th, PhD student Aida Guhlincozzi spoke about her work on healthcare accessibility at Monticello Middle School's Science Cafe, where students of all grade levels can attend brief (15-20 minute) talks about careers in science. Students were very interested in maps, and the variety of topics that geographers study. GGIS students interested in participating in Science Cafe can contact MMS 6th grade science teacher Cindy Heineger at heici@sages.us.

REMINDER: Spring 2018 Roepke Scholarships are due Friday, February 2nd. APPLY HERE
These scholarships are only available to Geography & GIS majors – providing you with generous academic and research opportunities, and financial support for study abroad trips and off-campus internships.

Office of Undergraduate Research | ugresearch@illinois.edu
Research Support Grant (RSG)
This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs.  We hope that this competition will both broaden and deepen the types of research being conducted by undergraduate students on campus, and that the recipients are able to use this opportunity as a way of engaging with their fields.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.
---
Conference Travel Grant (CTG)
This grant provides awards of up to $350 for undergraduate students to travel to professional conferences to present their research posters, papers, or creative works. Please note, the Office of Undergraduate Research does not provide funds for conference travel for attendance only; grants are meant for students who will present their work.
Application Deadline: February 21, 2018 at 11:59pm.
---
Weekly Drop-in Hours
Beginning this week, the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) will hold drop-in hours every Thursday and Friday from 1 - 4pm. Staff from OUR will be available to answer student questions regarding services offered by the office (i.e. workshops, student grants, symposium presentations, etc), as well as general questions about getting started with research opportunities on campus. Students should check in at the reception desk on the 5^th floor of the Illini Union Bookstore Building, 807 S. Wright Street (offices of Campus Advising).