GIS Day 2025: High Schoolers Discover the Real-World Impact of Geographical Sciences

A day of panels, research demos and hands-on mapping gave students a close-up look at the people and ideas shaping geographical sciences.

More than 50 high school students from 12 schools across Maryland visited the University of Maryland’s Department of Geographical Sciences for this year’s GIS Day: High School Open House, gaining firsthand exposure to the tools, research and people shaping the future of geography.

Now in its fourth year, the Open House continues to deepen engagement and broaden perspectives on what geography looks like in practice. Organized by Professor George Hurtt and faculty specialist Janna Chapman, the event brings high school students into classrooms, research presentations and conversations with the UMD community.

The day opened in the Stamp Student Union, where Hurtt welcomed participants and introduced them to the many academic pathways available in geographical sciences. Students then heard from UMD Admissions about what becoming a GEOG major entails and the opportunities that come with it.

The conversation continued with a student panel, giving attendees the chance to learn about classes, research and campus life. Among their questions, high school students were curious how many AP classes panelists had taken before applying, which UMD courses were their favorites and how they balanced academics with extracurriculars.

“The student panels were very interesting. I was happy to learn that some of the undergraduate students have opportunities to do research or study abroad,” said Amelia Herrera, a College Park Academy student who heard about GIS Day through her AP Human Geography teacher.

Top left clockwise: Undergraduate student panel; campus tour at Testudo; DeMatha group with senior lecturer Naijun Zhou; and  Ph.D. Sstudent Zhihao Wang on the use of AI in ecosystem modeling

Herrera said the research presentations stood out to her. “My favorite part of the day was listening to the PhD students explain their research. I was especially interested in Dr. Evan Ellicott's research [about wildfires]. I found the use of satellites for research, as well as the subject matter fascinating.”

Her understanding of the field broadened as the day went on. “GIS Day vastly changed my perception of geography … I was introduced to so many different types of research in the field through the presentations that were given, I was actually blown away. I was very surprised to learn that the studies and research involved a strong grasp of CS knowledge as well.”

The morning also included presentations from the department’s summer interns, among them Natalie Rosenthal, an Environmental Science and Policy student and NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholar. She shared her work with the Campus Forest Carbon Project 2.0, explaining how it acts as a climate solution at the campus level by informing campus climate policy, guiding future land-use planning and supporting tree planting initiatives.

“It was so exciting to see the future of GEOG represented at this event!” Rosenthal wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Last May I got to speak at the GEOG High School Awards Banquet to more than 200 students, parents, teachers and UMD faculty. These experiences have been amazing opportunities to share my work throughout the campus community and the greater Maryland community.”

After a break for lunch at the Stamp Food Court, students regrouped for the Ice Cream Social — an informal hour that blended conversation, networking and a geography game. For Advaith Thambisetty, a student at Centennial High School, it was a highlight.

“My favorite part of the day was participating in the GeoGuessr game during the Ice Cream Social and winning the UMD GEOG mug and clips. I now keep the mug on my desk as a memento!” he said.

Thambisetty also came with an academic goal in mind. Over the summer, he had begun mapping disparities in access to cancer clinical trials in India. “I now want to learn how to use GIS in this project to summarize the disparities in access to cancer clinical trials in India,” he explained. “I learned that geography can lead to a great career, how strong the UMD geography department is and how many companies recruit geographers straight out of UMD."

He also appreciated the chance to discuss his project with an adviser. “During the day, I also got the opportunity to speak with Ms. Robyn Gausman-Burnett who offered several tips on how I could implement geospatial methods in my research project.” By the end of the event, he was already thinking ahead. “I am very excited and interested in applying for the GEOG internship program when the applications open. I am also interested in studying geography at UMD as well and think it would definitely be a great experience in helping me do that too!”

In the afternoon, students moved into hands-on classroom activities. In GEOG170: Mapping Our Digital World, senior lecturer Naijun Zhou introduced them to web and mobile mapping, artificial intelligence and differences between platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps. Together with the class, students created an interactive Story Map that plotted 93 dream travel destinations, showing how simple data can be transformed into a shared digital map. “It’s really my great pleasure to welcome high school friends to my class GEOG170!” Zhou said.

Led by Chapman, the group also took a campus tour, stopping at residence halls, a dining hall and even rubbingTestudo's nose, a long-starding UMD tradition. Along the way, they peeked into Professor Kathleen Stewart's GEOG475: Geographic Visualization and Digital Mapping and Associate Professor Kuishuang Feng's GEOG202: Introduction to Human Geography where they observed how maps are critiqued and how globalization changes cultures. The tour offered a firsthand look at the college experience while highlighting both the technical and human dimensions of the geography.

As the day wrapped up outside LeFrak Hall, Hurtt reminded students that GIS Day was only the starting point for those interested in geographical sciences. “You have earned a coveted spot in our GEOG pipeline of opportunities for high school students in what we call the GEOG High School Hub.”

Published on Mon, 12/08/2025 - 11:17