UCM Participates in GeoSpectrum National Conference

WARRENSBURG, MO – Representatives of the University of Central Missouri served as presenters and helped plan GeoSpectrum, a geospatial conference that was co-sponsored by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and Gallaudet University. The purpose of the event, which took place May 24, was to bring together subject matter experts from government, academia and industry to examine the importance of diversity in analysis during humanitarian crises.

 

The conference theme was “Diversity in Equity in Analysis: Its Role in Humanitarian Crises,” focusing on how diverse talent and technology can work together to advance geospatial capabilities. In order to keep pace with its competitors across the globe, NGA must increase opportunities to recruit diverse students in science, technology, engineering and math to thrive in career paths as intelligence professionals.

 

During the program, UCM was among various participating organizations that provided research demonstrations. A presentation titled “Community Capacity and Rebuilding” was made by Dianna Bryant, director of the Institute for Rural Emergency Management and associate professor of crisis and disaster management at UCM, with Keshav Bhattari, professor of geography and program coordinator, and Musa Ilu, associate professor of sociology. Also representing UCM was David Pearce, executive director of governmental relations at UCM. He helped plan the event, as UCM also assisted in developing the conference agenda.

 

NGA and Gallaudet signed an educational partnership agreement, formalizing a wider research and engagement relationship. The Environmental Protection Agency will aid in the education experience of Galladulet students and faculty by providing a mechanism by which they can benefit from the staff expertise, unique facilities and equipment available from NGA.

 

The deaf and  hard of hearing community, which makes up the population of Gallaudet University, is part of the diverse talent that was discussed during the conference. The community’s sense of visual acuity provides a unique approach to problem solving, particularly as it pertains to visual analysis.

 

NGA is an agency that delivers world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders. It is a unique combination of intelligence agency and combat support agency, and a world leader in timely, relevant, accurate and actionable geospatial intelligence. NGA enables the U.S. intelligence community and the Department of Defense to fulfill the national security priorities to protect the nation. Learn more about NGA at www.nga.mil.