ESRGC Newsletter Winter 2020-2021

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ESRGC Remains Optimistic

They say that hope springs eternal. That phrase has never seemed more apt than as we turn the page from 2020 and look ahead to 2021. As I write this, the first vaccine to protect Americans from COVID-19 is about to be approved. A contentious election has concluded. Advances in science and technology fill our newsfeeds daily. Even the long-intractable issues with social justice and our society’s commitment to fairness are attracting concerted, if difficult, conversations. The promise of the new year is generating tremendous optimism about the future, even in the face of what will likely be a very long pandemic winter.

This turn toward optimism aligns with the working environment at the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative. Our team is a naturally optimistic bunch! This unbridled positive outlook comes from the work that we have done for the past 17 years and continue to do on behalf of the people, the governments, the businesses and the non-profit organizations of Maryland and Delaware. As a group, we are problem-solvers. From our perspective, it doesn’t matter if the problem is sea-level change, delivering broadband to rural areas, preserving our natural and cultural heritage, expanding and diversifying our economic capabilities, or supporting our small villages and towns, the ESRGC believes that our work can be part of the solution. Through careful geographic data collection, robust data analysis and innovative data visualization, it is very rare that we feel stymied or at a loss to see how we can help. As we like to say around the office, we are in the business of “Yes!”

As an outreach service of Salisbury University, the ESRGC is here to build the capacity of our local community, and that process is best accomplished through long-running partnerships, not short-term contract transactions. Our team is ready to put their creativity, their determination and their years of experience to work to solve your problems collaboratively. So, best wishes for a productive, prosperous and “normal” 2021 for you and yours from the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative!

Happy New Year!

Michael Scott, Ph.D., GISP

Director, Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative
Dean, Henson School of Science and Technology

SU Horticulture Department - Arboretum

Salisbury University’s campus is home to over 3,000 trees and is a nationally recognized arboretum by the American Public Gardens Association. SU’s Horticulture Department utilizes GIS to carefully track and catalog valuable plant details, as this information is critical to the management of the campus environment. The ESRGC recently collaborated with the Horticulture Department to streamline and update the Salisbury University Interactive Arboretum. The public, web-mapping application provides access to champion trees and allows users to filter trees by species, all in an easy-to-use and visually pleasing application. If you’re unable to visit in person, be sure to use the Salisbury University Interactive Arboretum to virtually explore our campus!

Welcome Upper Shore Regional Council!

The ESRGC is thrilled to welcome the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) as our newest program partner. As the regional planning and development agency for Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties since 2003, USRC nurtures the physical, economic and social development of their region. ESRGC will engage with the USRC and the counties it serves to develop data-driven, decision-making tools.

Eastern Shore Economic Recovery Tools

The ESRGC is teaming up with local leaders to develop recovery tools and technologies to address the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the Eastern Shore. Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and facilitated through the Mid-Shore Regional Council, this two-year grant opportunity focuses on data and topics important to the businesses and decision makers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Adjunct Faculty Offerings

Anastassiya Suprunova completed instructing undergraduate geography students in GEOG 320: Cartographic Visualization in fall 2020! Suprunova updated the course material to include data visualization methods using Microsoft PowerBI and ESRI products.

Be on the lookout for Logan Hall on campus teaching GEOG 419: Geographic Information Systems over the spring 2021 semester.

Intern Spotlight: Emily Barrett

The ESRGC works directly with Salisbury University to help provide valuable internship opportunities for students in the GIS field. Internships range from field data collection to database analyses for local government agencies, and everything in between! On a quarterly basis, the ESRGC highlights a current or former intern to call attention to their experience and see how it has helped them learn real-world skills that prepare them for a direct transition to the workforce.

Check out Emily Barrett

ESRGC Notable Achievements

Two team members represent the ESRGC on the Maryland Stage Geographic Information Committee (MSGIS) Executive Committee for 2020-2021. Logan Hall was elected Education Caucus chair and Ryan Mello was elected Education Subcommittee co-chair.

Where to find ESRGC

https://esrgc.org/

Give to ESRGC

A copy of the current financial statement of the Salisbury University Foundation, Inc. is available by writing 1308 Camden Avenue, Salisbury MD 21801 or on its website, www.salisbury.edu/foundation. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, 410-974-5534.

SU is an Equal Opportunity/AA/Title IX university and provides reasonable accommodation given sufficient notice to the University office or staff sponsoring the event or program. For more information regarding SU’s policies and procedures, please visit www.salisbury.edu/equity.

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