Main Menu

Summer institute

Celebrating the fifth centenary of Vespucci's discoveries, the Vespucci Initiative recaptures his spirit of multi-disciplinary intellectual enquiry to explore new frontiers of knowledge. To that end it organizes and conducts a range of research and teaching activities, bringing together senior scientists and promising young researchers from around the world. This unique interdisciplinary mix creates what has been called the Medici Effect (Perhaps it is no coincidence that the summer institutes are held in Florence!). What these particular researchers have in common is a special interest in the locational aspects of societal challenges. These aspects are being studied and exploited in the emerging field of Geographic Information Science and are being implemented within the GIS, Location Based Systems (LBS) and other industries (see www.giscience.org, www.agile-online.org, www.ucgis.org).

The Institute builds on the successes of the Summer Schools organized by the European Science Foundation's GISDATA programme and the (US) National Science Foundation's National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis in 1995-97. The Institute is open to post-graduate researchers in the academic, public, and private sectors selected on a competitive basis through an open call for expression of interest.

The Summer Institute is aimed at researchers from the university, commercial, and government sectors. It provides an inspiring and productive opportunity for peer-to-peer interaction with leading international experts in the field. Participants will

  • Learn the state of the art in the topic areas
  • Understand and explore tomorrow's research and market challenges
  • Be challenged to think laterally outside their daily work setting
  • Present their own work and ideas to receive feedback and advice
  • Get one-on-one access to experts in a relaxed and productive setting
  • Improve presentation and team work skills
  • Return home refreshed and newly motivated

The Summer Institute format is multi-faceted and will include

  • Topical presentations and group projects
  • Analyses of case studies
  • Discussions and critique of methodology
  • Skill-development sessions
  • Opportunities for working on
    • joint publications in international journals
    • project proposals to funding agencies or management
    • business plans

Who should apply?

  • University researchers and faculty at all levels
  • Project managers and researchers in industry and government
  • Developers of LBS, SDI, and e-Government solutions

Links