Howard T. Fisher Prize in Geographic Information Science

Winners, Academic Year 2007-2008

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Committee of the Howard T. Fisher Prize in Geographical Information Science, Harvard University, is pleased to announce the recipients of the award for the academic year 2007-2008:

Anjali Lohani, candidate for S.B. in Environmental Engineering, for the entry entitled Effects of Changes in Land Cover on Water Quality;

and

Jeremy Tchou, undergraduate at Harvard College, for his entry entitled Wind Energy in the United States: A Spatial-Economic Analysis of Wind Power. In their evaluations, the judges commented:

Anjali Lohani:
"Excellent analysis... discussed and developed a unique procedure to assess effects of Land cover change; ...an example of a skillfully conceived and implemented study "

Jeremy Tchou:
"A good use of GIS functions, clearly defined objective, strong spatial-economic analysis, of an important topic: the US wind energy potential; ... an excellent paper. ... resourcefulness with regard to data sources, prior scholarship, analytic techniques and conceptual modeling are terrific."

In the graduate category, two prizes will be awarded, to:

Amos P. K. Tai, a first-year graduate student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for his entry entitled "Regional Differences in the Effects of Climate Change on Air Quality in the United States with a Focus on Particulate Matter Concentrations" ;

and

Miwa Matsuo, candidate for Doctor of Design, at the Graduate School of Design, for her entry entitled "Identifying Employment Centers and Modifiable Areal Unit Problem".

In their evaluations, the judges commented:

Amos Tai:
"Good use of spatial models...innovative approach to relate particulate matter observations with meteorological variables ... Excellent analysis and discussion: clear and consistent"

Miwa Matsuo:
"... a very useful method for understanding and ameliorating the effects of the Modifiable Aerial Unit Problem, which is a fundamental problem in spatial analysis; ...innovative use of graphics; clear and compelling ..."

The goals of the Fisher Prize are to promulgate and reward geo-spatial work at Harvard University, across a wide range of disciplines and techniques, and this selection demonstrates the range very well.

We congratulate Anjali, Jeremy, Amos, and Miwa for their achievements and wish them all future success.

Stephen Ervin
and Lucia Lovison-Golob

HTFisher Prize Committee

Members of the Committee

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.

See http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/academic/fellowships/prizes/gisprize for more information.

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.

  For questions or commments , please contact Stephen Ervin ( servin@gsd.harvard.edu) or Lucia Lovison-Golob (lovison@eps.harvard.edu )