Three GIS students from Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College and Clark University to receive $5,000 each to perform pro bono geospatial analysis work for non-profits over the summer
Philadelphia, PA, May 8, 2012 – Azavea, an award winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company announces the winners of its second Summer of Maps. Inspired by the Google Summer of Code, Azavea Summer of Maps is a program that offers $5,000 stipends to student GIS analysts to perform pro bono geospatial data analysis projects for non-profit organizations over a three-month period in the summer of 2013. Azavea received applications from students and nonprofits from all over the United States. This year, the number of selected students increased from two to three thanks to sponsorships from Esri and Tri-Co Digital Humanities.
Azavea selected Lena Ferguson, studying Growth and Structure of Cities at Bryn Mawr College; Julia Reeves, also studying Growth and Structure of Cities at Haverford College; and Tyler Dahlberg, Master of Science in GIS for Development and Environment at Clark University. Ms. Ferguson will be working with the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children on mapping the need and capacity of high-quality childcare in the Delaware Valley. She will also be working with the Sunlight Foundation on mapping and analysis of political influence on members of the U.S. Congress. Concurrently, Ms. Reeves will be working with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on an analysis of urban tree mortality with local tree tender volunteers; and with the Texas Trees Foundation on an analysis of tree planting locations to prioritize planting projects while evaluating the impact of canopy change in the City of Dallas. Mr. Dahlberg will be working with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia on the analysis and visualization of bicycle activity in Philadelphia; and with the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger on the visualization of high-need residents and underserved areas in Philadelphia for Coalition Against Hunger assistance.
This year again, both national and regional non-profit organizations applied with a wide array of potential spatial analysis projects that spanned domains as varied as the arts and culture, environment, community and economic development, public health and food, elections and politics, transportation, and family services. The Wilma Theater, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Public Health Management Corporation, the Voting Information Project, DataHaven, the Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police were among the participating organizations. The majority of the student applications came from students at regional Philadelphia universities like Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, and the Tri-College Consortium: Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore, but a significant number were submitted from as far away as Middlebury College, Harvard University, The New School University, University of California Davis, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“The quality of the applications we received from both the non-profit organizations and students was outstanding. Competition was fierce, which made it challenging for us to select winning organizations and students. What this showed us, though, is that a lot of non-profits are asking very sophisticated spatial data analysis questions in support of their missions. I am very excited that Azavea will have a chance to work with these top students implementing projects with social and civic value. This combination of advanced analysis and social benefit is what Azavea is all about.” said Robert Cheetham, Azavea CEO and President.
From June to August 2013, the winning non-profit organizations will be able to:
- Receive pro bono services from a skilled student GIS analyst to geographically analyze their data
- Visualize their data in new ways
- Combine their data with other demographic and geographic data
- Receive high quality maps that can be used to support new initiatives or make a case to prospective funders
The fellows will:
- Work on a spatial analysis project that supports the social mission of two non-profit organizations
- Work with Azavea mentors to improve their GIS and project management skills
- Receive a monthly stipend
- Gain work experience implementing real-world GIS projects
Azavea is planning to renew this initiative next year, and encourages nonprofits and GIS students to continue checking the Azavea Summer of Maps webpage for announcements related to the 2014 program: http://summerofmaps.com/
About Azavea – Azavea is an award-winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development firm specializing in the creation of location-based web and mobile software as well as geospatial analysis services. Azavea is a certified B Corporation that applies geographic data and technology to promote the emergence of vibrant and sustainable communities while advancing the state-of-the-art through research. Each of Azavea’s projects, products and pro bono engagements showcases this commitment. Find out more at https://www.azavea.com/.
If you would like more information about Azavea or to schedule an interview with Robert Cheetham, Azavea CEO and President, please contact Amelia Longo at (215) 701-7715 or e-mail alongo@azavea.com.