Become member

NACIS News: August 2021

Date posted: August 20, 2021

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Join us for the 21st annual NACIS conference

This year, we offer a hybrid in-person and remote conference experience on October 13-16th. With registration, all presentations will be available live, in real time, even if you can’t join us in person. You can engage with your carto-colleagues in person at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City and/or on our website and Slack. Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations (via this link) – the NACIS discount ends September 21st.

Be sure to check out the exciting line-up on Sched where the full conference program is available.

Registration is now open. Start by logging into our website to get your discount code from the Annual Meeting page, then click the Register Now button. A helpful video on the registration site will guide you through our new registration process if needed. We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting, either in-person or remotely!

COVID-19 update

With the uncertainty and anxiety associated with COVID-19 and the current Delta variant, we’re offering both in-person and remote options to help everyone feel comfortable gathering with our community. We’ve identified outdoor venues for social events and are calling on your help to make the indoor conference sessions the safest experience possible. We recommend all in-person attendees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and to wear masks in accordance with the CDC’s current recommendation. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and thank you for considering the well-being of our community.

Keynote speakers

We’re pleased to announce that Mr. Tristan Ahtone, editor-in-chief of the Texas Observer, and Dr. Robert Lee, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Cambridge, will be giving this year’s keynote address at NACIS 2021. They’ll discuss their multi-year investigation and exposé “Land-Grab Universities” about mapping the indigenous lands expropriated by the Morrill Act of 1862. Join us online or in-person at 7:00PM Central Time on October 13.

LAST CALL for submissions

Student map competitions: We encourage students and student groups to send entries for the Student Dynamic Map Competition and Student Map and Poster Competition by August 31. Winners receive cash prizes of up to $500.

Map gallery: Enter your maps and cartographic displays into the Map Gallery so your NACIS friends can admire them in October. The Map Gallery always sparks ideas in your fellow cartographers. Show off your work and be inspired by the work of others. The deadline is August 31.

Undergraduate student scholarship: The deadline for applications for the annual NACIS Student Scholarship in Cartography is August 31. Please visit the Scholarship page for details and application instructions. Educators, please help us spread the word and share this annual opportunity with your students. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Travel and/or participation grants: These grants invest in the future growth and strength of NACIS, and applications are still open. We have categories for students and professionals, whether you are attending in person or remotely. While there is no deadline for applications, grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. In accordance with NACIS’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, at least 20% of all grant awards will be prioritized for individuals from minority or under-represented groups.

Can you help?

Member survey: We’re seeking anonymous feedback in order to continue cultivating a welcoming, accessible community of cartographers, and we would love your feedback via this quick three-question survey.

Conference swag: Do you have fun or useful books, software licenses, maps, or other carto gifts that can be donated for giveaways at the NACIS conference? If so, please get in touch with Denise Lu.

Video sponsors: Every year it costs NACIS about $20k to record and stream our conference. We’re seeking sponsorships to cover the cost of recording and preparing the videos so we can continue to make streams available and build a library of cartographic content available to anyone on our YouTube channel. Please visit our video sponsorship page if you or your organization can make a donation. Thanks!

Conference volunteering: Volunteers are what help NACIS run smoothly, and a hybrid conference needs extra help. If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to Pat Kennelly. It’s a great way to meet other NACIS members and contribute to our community.

Follow us online

Follow NACIS on social media for conference updates and news. You can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

Downtown Oklahoma City and Oklahoma River at Sunset by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau

Photo of the Map Gallery at NACIS 2018 by Kate Leroux