Interdisciplinary Geographic Information System Applications at Colgate University

地理系的中心目标是为所有学生提供收集、分析和展示数据的技能。尽管在实现这一目标方面取得了一些成功，但学生们在地理信息系统（GIS）方面接受的培训很少。地质系和生物系也有同样的担忧，他们也认识到地理信息系统在各自学科中日益增长的重要性。我们的目标是为广泛的本科学生提供跨学科的GIS接触，这样他们离开大学后就可以使用这项技术，并可以从事涉及GIS的独立研究。实现这一目标的计划有三个组成部分，涉及地理系、地质系和生物系的努力。首先，正在开发一门交叉课程，专门解决地理信息系统的理论和应用问题。本课程构成了地理信息系统教育的核心。第二，鼓励使用地理信息系统的独立学生研究。这些项目包括与纽约州麦迪逊县的计划局合作开展社区外展工作，以及在大学进行环境研究。第三，正在修改现有的课程，以包括涉及地理信息系统的讲座和练习。

A central goal of the Geography Department is to provide all students with skills in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. Despite some success in achieving this goal, students receive little training in geographic information systems (GIS). This concern is shared with the Geology and Biology Departments, who also recognize the growing importance of GIS in their disciplines. Our objective is to provide a wide cross-section of undergraduate students with interdisciplinary exposure to GIS such that they can use this technology after leaving the university and can engage in independent research that involves GIS. The plan to meet this objective has three components and involves efforts by the Geography, Geology, and Biology Departments. First, a cross-listed course is being developed specifically addressing the theoretical and applied issues of GIS. This course forms the core of GIS education. Second, independent student research that uses GIS is being encouraged. Such projects include community-based outreach work with the Madison County, NY, Planning Agency and environmental studies at the university. Third, existing courses are being modified to include lectures and exercises involving GIS.