This is MU’s fifth year to participate in GIS Day, an international celebration which focuses attention on the power that Geographic Information Systems have to improve the world and make life better, Leonard said.
The event is sponsored by the College of Science, the College of Liberal Arts, the Department of Geography and the Department of Integrated Science/Technology. Among the activities are a poster exhibition, GIS/Google Earth contest, and GPS/geocaching. Leonard said more than 80 students from Spring Valley High School in Huntington and Huntington High School are attending.
For the second consecutive year, more high school students came this year than in any previous year, Leonard said. “The high school students have a great time participating in GIS and GPS activities,” he said.
Approximately 10 Marshall undergraduate and graduate students who use GIS in their research will be presenting their work in poster form. The poster exhibition is taking place in room BE5 on the lower level of the Memorial Student Center until 2 p.m.
The GIS activities for high school students are in several computer labs across campus, while the GPS activity will be on the campus grounds. Leonard said he expects about 50 Marshall students to visit the poster session.