Howard T. Fisher Prize in Geographic Information Science

  

In Academic year 2007-2008, the deadline for submission will be FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008 5:00 PM. Please read on...

The Howard T. Fisher Prize for excellence in Geographic Information Science was established (read press release ) in 1999 to promote and reward student work in this broad and potentially interdisciplinary area, from both undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University.

Howard Fisher, a geographer and mathematical cartographer, founded the Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1965. His work and others' from that laboratory led directly to the computer-based technology that subsequently became widely known as GIS (Geographic Information Systems.) Fisher valued the communicative and explanatory power of maps, and developed techniques from computer and information science to expand the capabilities for producing and analyzing maps, and managing spatial data in general.

What is the Prize?

Two separate prizes, one for undergraduate and one for graduate work, may be awarded at the end of each school year, or less frequently at the discretion of the committee. No prize may be awarded in the absence of any entry of sufficiently high quality in the judgment of the committee. The details of the prize(s) may be established each year by the committee.

In the academic year 2006-2007 four separate cash prizes of $1000 (One Thousand dollars US) were awarded, two to undergraduates, two to graduates.

Who is Eligible?

The prize is open to any student enrolled in any school at Harvard University, including the Extension school, during either semester of that school year. Two separate awards may be given, one for students in undergraduate, including Extension school, studies; the other for students in graduate, including PhD, studies. Group projects with multiple authors (but all from within the Harvard University community) may be submitted; all authors must be identified, will be considered equal contributors, and will share in the prize equally.

What work is Eligible?

Although intended primarily to recognize original work done in school for course credit, including thesis work, any relevant original work except that done commercially for a fee, may be entered. Geographic Information Science for these purposes is considered quite broadly, encompassing works which combine aspects of spatial or geographic information with computer and information science, and includes but is not limited to the following topic areas :
cartography, geography, remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems, extraterrestrial mapping, decision support systems, GIS and economics, GIS and communities, GIS and education, spatio-temporal GIS analysis, GIS applications, 3-D GIS, database storage and management, spatial data structure, indexing and organization, GIS metadata, online GIS, GIS and mobile computing, interoperable GIS, geoprocessing standards, computer science algorithms, and spatial data visualization techniques.
Both original theoretical works, and applications of GIS technology in any discipline, are eligible.

As the prize is intended to promote both exploration and excellence, original, unproven and tentative ideas are as eligible as more finished pieces of work.

Check here for the announcement of the prize-winners from academic year 2006-2007.

Check here for the announcement of the prize-winners from academic year 2005-2006.

Check here for the announcement of the prize-winners from academic year 2004-2005.

Check here for the announcement of the prize-winners from academic year 2003-2004.

Check here for the announcement of the prize-winners from academic year 2002-2003.

Check here for an on-line example of the graduate prize-winner from academic year 2001-2002.

Check here for an on-line example of the graduate prize-winner from academic year 2000-2001.

What is Required?

Each application must consist of:
  1. a written report, in PDF format no more than 8 pages overall (all text, min 11 pt, along with all accompanying/embedded graphics, tables, references, etc.), that describes the aims and principal findings, or results, of the study, and describes why and how the work is appropriate for consideration for this prize, i.e., why it is an example of excellence in Geographic Information Science. This may include some contextual or background information to explain the significance of the work. This report must identify the author(s) and their affiliation to Harvard University, certify that the work is original, and clearly identify any attributions or other 'borrowed' material, and should identify the course or other circumstances for which the work was created. This may also include comments, recommendations, or other information from relevant faculty members under whose auspices the work was done. You may also include (optionally) a URL link to a site on the world wide web, which further explains or illustrates the work done. Please note that the evaluation committee may include a range of fields and disciplines, so be sure to write your submission with the 'interested generalist' in mind.

    One PDF file must be submitted via the UPLOAD system at http://www.gis.dce.harvard.edu/fisher/fisher-instructions.html .

    1. Uploads page is now password protected. To create your account, email your Harvard ID number to lovison@eps.harvard.edu.
    2. Upon receiving a confirmation email that your account is created, you can use it to access the Uploads Page.
    3. To log in, use your last name as the user name and harvard id as the password.
    4. Please submit your paper with your First and Last Name: First_Last_Title.pdf.
    5. Remember only .PDF file formats are allowed.

Logistics

The committee, comprised of faculty or staff members from three or more schools within the University, as well as occasional outside members at the Committee's discretion, solicits applications beginning in March. All applications must be submitted by a date to be specified by the committee, before the end of the spring semester. Awards, if any, will be announced before or as part of graduation ceremonies; and will be posted on this website by the end of the summer. See also the website at http://www.gis.harvard.edu/

In Academic year 2007-2008, the deadline for submission will be FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008 5:00 PM. For questions or commments , please contact Lucia Lovison-Golob ( lovison@eps.harvard.edu ) or Stephen Ervin ( servin@gsd.harvard.edu).