The University of Oregon's InfoGraphics Lab celebrated its 25th anniversary on Thursday, Nov. 14, with a reception to honor outstanding work the lab has produced through the years.
On hand were current and former employees and students of the lab, UO President Michael Gottfredson, Interim Provost Scott Coltrane, Acting CAS Dean Andrew Marcus, Geography Department Head Peter Walker and dozens of campus colleagues.
The InfoGraphics Lab, located in the Department of Geography, works on a variety of projects with faculty, campus offices and governmental agencies. The lab’s work includes cartography and graphic design, including atlas design, agency support and dynamic presentation support, and geographic information science, including campus GIS development and archeology GIS mapping support.
"As proud as we are, and we are extremely proud of everything we have done, the next 25 years are going to be even better. We haven't even peaked yet," Ken Kato, associate director of the InfoGraphics Lab and Campus GIS Program coordinator.
A model for similar labs throughout the country, the InfoGraphics Lab has produced a variety of award-winning projects, including the Atlas of Yellowstone, the first atlas of a U.S. national park. The Atlas of Oregon, the comprehensive reference guide on Oregon's history, human geography, economy and physical landscape, won an Association of American Geographers (AAG) Globe Award and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) 2002 Best in Show Award.
The University of Oregon mobile app was awarded the ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award and the ERSI Best Mobil GIS App Award. The app allows users to make their way across campus to help find classes, activities and events. The newest version also allows users to search library books and map them to their exact shelf and take custom tours around campus.
In addition to the lab’s outstanding achievements, the InfoGraphics Lab has also produced many exceptional students who have gone on to successful careers. With a job placement rate of 100 percent, students who have worked in the lab have gone on to careers with Google, the New York Times and National Geographic.
"One of our greatest achievements is working with students and helping them gain the skills they need to achieve what they want when they graduate," Jim Meacham, executive director of the InfoGraphics Lab.
- by Melissa Foley, UO Office of Strategic Communications