RAM Colloquium with Bo Zhao
Title: Humanistic Geographic Information Science: Theories, Ethics of Care, and Practice
Time and venue: Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 5 pm CEST; online on Zoom
Registration via: Google Forms
The Zoom link will be shared with all registered participants closer to the event.
Abstract:
This talk explores the integration of a humanistic perspective into Geographic Information Science, focussing on how GIS technologies mediate and appropriate human experiences across different spaces and places. It proposes a new perspective to conceptualise GIS through the "Human–GIS–Place" relationship into four types: Embodiment GIS, Hermeneutic GIS, Autonomous GIS, and Background GIS, thereby expanding the scope of research in this field. This talk also underscores
the importance of care in GIS practices, calling for greater attention to the needs of vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Speaker bio:
Bo Zhao is an Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Washington Seattle and the Director of the Humanistic GIS Laboratory. His research focuses on Geographic Information Science, spatial misinformation, and the societal impacts of emerging GIS technologies. He pays particular attention to the lived experiences of vulnerable populations, such as refugees displaced by climate change and marginalized groups living under oppressive conditions. Professor Zhao has made significant contributions to the fields of Humanistic GIS and Deepfake Geography, exploring how GIS shapes social structures and behaviours. He is dedicated to raising public awareness about the implications of fake geospatial information for security and geoprivacy.
