Inaugural Geringer Distinguished Lecture April 29 at UW

Jim Geringer, Wyoming’s 30th governor and former director of policy and public-sector strategies at the Environmental Systems Research Institute, is being honored by the University of Wyoming’s School of Computing and Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) with the annual Geringer Distinguished Lecture series.

The inaugural Geringer Distinguished Lecture will be delivered by Geringer himself, focusing on the pivotal role of geospatial information science in shaping public policy. It’s scheduled Monday, April 29, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Family Room.

The lecture series recognizes Geringer’s longtime commitment to geospatial information science. He has collaborated with senior elected officials and corporate leaders for over two decades, advocating for the effective use of geospatial technology in both business and government decision-making.

Future lectures will feature distinguished speakers and experts in geospatial information science.

“With his work in both the public sector and private industry, Jim Geringer has been a tremendous advocate for the value of geospatial technologies for policy development and decision-making in so many application areas, from natural resource management to health care,” says Jeff Hamerlinck, director and research scientist with WyGISC. “We’re extremely happy to be able to honor his legacy with the establishment of this new annual distinguished lecture event at UW and to have him as its inaugural speaker.”

In addition to Geringer’s remarks, three UW students will present “lightning talks” at the event: Sage Wright, of Casper, who’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geospatial information science and technology; Aidana Mukhamedina, of Astana, Kazakhstan, who’s studying for a Ph.D. in hydrology and geospatial information science and technology; and Maggie Sobolewski, of Chicago, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in geospatial information science and technology.

During his campus visit, Geringer will meet with UW President Ed Seidel; Cameron Wright, the Carroll Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; and Gabrielle Allen, director of the School of Computing.