51ΑΤΖζ

Department Update

Two people stand behind a table that bears a sign reading GIS Day registration.
51ΑΤΖζ hosted GIS Day in November.

51ΑΤΖζ hosts GIS Day

The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Council hosted GIS Day @51ΑΤΖζ at the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) on Nov. 21.

One hundred people attended the keynote event, a panel on β€˜Careers in GIS’ featuring four 51ΑΤΖζ alumni who offered advice for students interested in GIS. Emily Sudar and Baldev Singh, both of whom majored in geography at 51ΑΤΖζ, emphasized the value of GIS and spatial data to local governments and business. Dominick Ratkowski, who completed his 51ΑΤΖζ degree in criminal justice, talked about his work at the Wauwatosa Police Department using GIS for crime prevention. Ryan Covington, who has his PhD in geography and works with the World Wildlife Fund, stressed the importance of continued learning on the job in the world of spatial data.

Four people sit behind a table at the front of a room. In the foreground in front of the table a crowd of people sits with their backs to the viewer, looking at the speakers.
51ΑΤΖζ alumni sat on a panel offering advice for students interested in GIS careers.

The day also featured workshops in QGIS, an open source GIS app; using Python with GIS software; Allmaps for relating historic maps to current, georeferenced maps; and humanitarian mapping to assist with disaster relief efforts around the world. Lunch was provided by the GIS Council, and after lunch there was a tour of the AGSL. Half of the people who participated in GIS day were students, one fifth were community members, and the rest included 51ΑΤΖζ alumni, faculty, and staff.  

The GIS Council would like to especially thank 51ΑΤΖζ Libraries for the use of their space and other support.  

51ΑΤΖζ’s Geography Department hosts geographers conference

UW-Milwaukee’s Geography Department hosted the annual meeting of the West Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers on Oct. 23-25, 2025. Students and professors of geography – from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and of course, Wisconsin universities – gathered to share research on topics ranging from flood preparedness and trout stream restoration to urban greenway networks and cycling safety.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Julie Cidell (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) on warehousing and logistics in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor. Dr. Cidell has found that the growth of warehousing to supply online shopping has changed the landscape of that corridor, and is reshaping urban, suburban, and rural development.

The 51ΑΤΖζ Geography Department was also thrilled that three 51ΑΤΖζ graduate students won awards for their research. In the Master’s paper competition, Thea Brenner placed 1st with her research on arts organizations in Milwaukee, and brianna sas-perez placed 2nd with her project on Milwaukee’s best pizza. In the poster competition, Yiming Zhang placed 3rd among graduate students with his research on spatial accessibility at long-term care facilities in Wisconsin.

Courtesy of the 51ΑΤΖζ Geography Department