Call for Participation

The Call for Participation for the Symposium is now closed.  Thanks to all who submitted an abstract, vision paper, or workshop proposal.  Acceptance decisions will be sent out by March 15.  Please visit the Registration Page and register by April 15 to receive early registration rates.


The theme of the event will be Climate Smart GIScience: Mapping a Sustainable Future. Major questions for the conference include:  

  • How can geographic information science, spatial analysis, cartography and geovisualization help us to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis at all geographic scales?  
  • How can novel geospatial data and GeoAI help us understand the behavior of complex human-environmental systems and shape these systems towards more sustainable and resilient outcomes in a time of intensifying disruptions? 
  • What are the best practices for science, industry and governmental collaboration in a climate emergency, including educating and training the next generation of researchers, practitioners and policy analysis, and development of GeoAI standards? 
  • How do we conduct research, education and outreach in a climate-friendly way, including the activities of professional organizations?  How do we help our universities become more climate smart?  
  • How do we leverage the power of the map in climate change communication, for outreach and engagement to communities impacted by climate change and extreme weather? 

While the focus of the joint meeting is climate and sustainability, abstracts on other topics related to cartography and GIScience are also welcome. 

Important Dates

  • October 1 – Call for Participation
  • February 2 – Abstracts and vision statements due
  • March 15 – Acceptance decisions sent out
  • April 15 – Speaker commitment/registration deadline

Submission Guidelines

For presentations related to research papers, panel/interactive sessions and lightning talks, submit an appropriate abstract as indicated below. We are also soliciting brief vision statements on the overall theme of how geospatial science connects within the larger data sciences, especially with regards to curricula and degrees.

Submission types and guidelines – please indicate at the top of your abstract the format for which you are submitting (i.e., research paper, vision statement, poster, or lightning talk):

  • For a presentation related to a research paper:
    • Submit a 1500-word (maximum) abstract that includes the research question, brief literature review and description of methods, and a brief description of findings. 
    • Note that the editor of the Cartography and Geographic Information Science journal and the journal’s editorial board will review these 1500-word abstracts and will invite submission of full papers to be considered for publication in a special issue of the journal by the end of 2025.
    • Curious about how to format your abstract submission? CaGIS has prepared a helpful template (Word doc) for your use.  
  • For a Vision Statement:
    • Submit a 1500-word statement which should address one or more of the topics mentioned above and key roles for the geospatial sciences within the broader realm of climate science, setting an agenda for research or pedagogy.  These statements will be made available to all participants prior to the conference.
    • The Program Committee will separately review and select accepted statements for presentation and discussion at a panel session, and possible invitation for a full paper for review and publication in the Cartography and Geographic Information Science journal.
  • Poster or Lightning Talk:
    • Submit a 500-word abstract 
  • Workshop proposal for a 90- or 180-minute session:
    • Submit a 500-word abstract outlining the workshop.  Include expectations for participants (prerequisites, technology requirements), and proposed length.  Workshops will be held June 6, onsite only.

All submissions will be reviewed by the program committee. Because of the limited number of sessions planned for this conference, all abstracts may not be selected for presentation. The final decision on acceptances for the program will depend on the relevance of submissions to the conference theme or relevant topics of GIScience and cartography, as well as space availability. Participants whose abstracts are selected are expected to acknowledge receipt of the acceptance letter by email, verifying their intent to attend and make a presentation at the conference, and are required to register before April 15, 2024, to be included in the program. An edited conference proceedings of all accepted abstracts and position papers will be available online on the CaGIS and UCGIS websites. 

All submissions should be provided through EasyChair using the link below (you may need to log into EasyChair and then click the link again for the conference submission page to show):

CaGIS + UCGIS Symposium 2024 EasyChair submission link

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