Welcome to our latest newsletter! Keep up to date with our recent and upcoming activities, news, and events…
From the chair:
It’s been an interesting time in the world of data ethics! We certainly see the debate being played out in the role of location – an indeed it was discussed at the recent panel event which AGI hosted with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society at the Edinburgh Science Festival. Certainly there were various questions on the issues of location privacy. One of the top questions, was to what extent do our decision makers understand geographic information, in relation to the recent issues raised by a Scottish MSP on the cartographic depiction of Shetland.
I believe firmly that AGI’s mission and role remains highly relevant if not more so in the “4th Industrial Revolution” – and together, we must consider how national and global issues are addressed while maximising the use of geographic information in the UK.
I was delighted to meet in recent weeks with William Priest, Director of the Geospatial Commission and members of his team to further understand recent activities in the set-up of the GC, to share the output from our recent Geospatial Commission Breakfast Briefing and to offer our support in their important work. As how we may do so on a practical level becomes clearer, I will communicate this with more information to members.
For now, I’d encourage you to continue to engage and I look forward to seeing those of you who will attend the GeoPlace conference (10 May) or GeoBusiness conference (23 May).
With best wishes,
Abigail Page, AGI Chair
Recent activities:
- 22 March – AGI recently supported the Roger Tomlinson Prize Lecture held at University College London. The lecture was given by Dr Michael Gould, Global Education Manager at Esri, entitled ‘Data, Software, and Services: Views from Industry and Academia’. At the event, Dr Guy Lansley was awarded the Roger Tomlinson Prize for his PhD thesis entitled ‘Big Data: Geodemographics and Representation’ – Congratulations!
- 3 April – AGI with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society hosted “Mapping the Future” at the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The panel discussion was chaired by Prof Iain Stewart, who was joined by Nigel Clifford, OS CEO; Prof Paul Longley of the University College London; Chief Science Advisor at The National Farmers Union, Dr Helen Ferrier; and Founder of geospatial company, CARTO, Javier de la Torre.
The event was fully sold out and use of an interactive audience tool saw a good proportion of the audience participating in discussions. Following the event, a reception for invited guests enabled useful discussions and networking for our members and senior decision makers. Participating in an international public festival was a new endeavour for AGI – thank you to our members Ordnance Survey and CARTO for supporting this.
- 17 April – James Norris (Early Career Network Committee) presented at GISRUK 2018, discussing all things geo, careers, and networking! More on ECN and their work here.
AGI-Scotland Geospatial Emerging Talent Initiative:
At their Annual Event in February, AGI Scotland announced the launch of the Geospatial Emerging Talent Initiative which aims to bring budding geospatial professionals and ambitious businesses together. This will prepare new talent for a career in our industry and energise the workplace with enthusiasm and new ideas.
What’s in it for you? The scheme allows you to make your company or organisation known to emerging professionals and students entering the work force, find new employees, and get small projects or backlogs of work completed. More information here.
For your diary…
- 26 – 27 April – OS Geovation Hub is running a Humanitarian Hackathon CrisisHack at Geovation Hub, London. More information about how you can get involved here.
- 27 April – Edinburgh Earth Observatory-AGI Scotland Professional Seminar Series welcomes Prof. Jamie Pearce of CRESH Research Group at the University of Edinburgh – Title: Integrating historical GIS data and birth cohorts. Final Seminar will take place 25 May, led by Prof. Leif Isaksen FSA. More details here.
- 27 April – AGI’s Action Working Group for GeoCom18 are meeting to get the ball rolling! If you’d like to meet the team that’s organising GeoCom this year, perhaps to see how YOU can be involved too … why not join them at the end of the day for a catch-up over a well-deserved #Geodrink?! Come along to the Zetland Arms at 16:30!
- 10 May – GeoPlace’s Everything Happens Somewhere 2018 Conference (Linking People to Places) – AGI Chair, Abigail Page will run a roundtable session at this event. The conference welcomes local government address, street information and geographic information experts, and will take place at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.
- 25 May – Edinburgh Earth Observatory-AGI Scotland Professional Seminar Series welcomes Prof. Leif Isaksen FSA (University of Exeter) for the last seminar of this series! – Title: Pelagios: Linking Past and Future Spaces. More info here.
- 22 – 23 May – GEO Business 2018. AGI Chair, Abigail Page will chair a panel session on how geospatial can enable the growth of the economy and the role of the Geospatial Commission.
- 2-7 September – We are pleased to be supporting the UK Mapping Festival this September! The festival aims to bring together professional bodies, learned societies, interest groups, educational bodies (and many more!) to explore the potential and raise awareness of mapping! So far, they are pleased to welcome the following speakers; Ken Hames and Steven Feldman! More information on AGI’s involvement to follow.
- 8 November – GeoCom18, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London. This is our flagship event, where UK professionals working in and advancing all things geospatial come together to share new knowledge and build their network. Watch this space…
In the news:
- The latest issue of GIS Professional will be arriving with our members soon! This issue includes Holly Smith’s (AGI Early Career Network) article; ‘Women in Geospatial Breakfast – An Early Careers Perspective’. – give it a read!
- Did you know that at management level in the GIS industry ‘women are outnumbered four to one’? Find out more in Josie Hawkey and Nathan Heazlewood’s ‘Women in GIS Leadership – Developing a Grassroots Approach’ article in April’s GIS Professional.
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Good news for Geospatial as ‘Government gives go ahead for Geospatial Apprenticeships’! Damien Hinds, the Secretary of State for Education, gives final approval for a Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship and Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship. With funding bands approved, delivery will follow and new talent for the industry developed!
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‘The UK Space Agency invites proposals for space technology research and development projects to the National Space Technology Programme – Pathfinder projects’ – Pathfinder call: Announcement of Opportunity document available here.
As always, we’ve received a great range of PRs and news from our corporate members!
- GeoPlace’s annual conference will take place on 10 May at Edgbaston cricket ground. Full PR here.
- 12 April – Airbus has shipped SES-12 highly innovative satellite to launch base. Full PR here.
- 16 April – GIS4BUSINESS achieves Esri ArcGIS Online Specialty. Full PR here.
- 17 April – Airbus-built MetOp-C weather satellite gets ready for launch. Full PR here.
Check out what events our corporate members have coming up here.
Calling all AGI Corporate Members!
- If you’ve recently published a press release boasting all things geospatial, send it to info@agi.org.uk and we will add it to our Industry News page.
- Has a job vacancy opened in your organisation? Send us all the relevant information and we will add your job ad to our ‘Find your next job in #Geospatial‘ page!
If there’s anything you would like to share with the AGI community, be it a personal insight into the industry, a corporate member’s event or press release, then get in touch. Send your contributions to info@agi.org.uk – no fake news please!
As always, thank you for taking some time to stay up to date with us!
Best wishes,
The AGI team