This week we will be wrapping up many of our projects, or at least finding suitable stopping points. Many of us are in groups that have not even really started developing a project, while others have made large strides towards creating useful or innovative tools and research.

Going forward, I think it is important to take a critical look at these workgroups and decide whether time would be better spent invested in projects that have gained steam this semester. If, within an entire semester, no work as really been done in that workgroup it is probably time to move on from that idea for now. Although the problem might not be the concept, but the management, either way the idea was not compelling enough to get any of the 4 or 5 people invested and therefore should be reconceptualized or tabled indefinitely.

For those that have progressed and feel excited about their projects, I would love to hear about them and see how I can possibly contribute or learn from their experiences. Being the first year of this program, there will obviously be a lot of trial and error. I think having us doing weekly or monthly lectures or programs that can advance our skills and experiences with the technology in the space is a fantastic step in the right direction.

I personally feel that we can also do more to engage students and professors by meeting with them in their classes, finding projects that would suit the skillset of our SIFs.  Amber and I have been able to help a couple of students and faculty with projects that would benefit from mapping, but I know that there must be others that would benefit from our GIS background.

With time I am confident we will find ways to encourage use of the space and innovation utilizing the technology and knowledge available.