The Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems Centre in collaboration with Local Government will host The Bahamas’ 2nd GIS User Conference 19th -21st November 2008. This esteemed event will be held in Marsh Harbour on the beautiful island of Abaco, Bahamas.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Advancing GIS One Island At A Time”. The overall objective is to promote GIS in the Family Islands, where GIS is being implemented to assist Local Government with land use planning and research, and to engage teachers and students in the use of GIS in the school system. Additionally, the focus of the conference is to foster the use of GIS in the Family Islands and to get GIS in the classroom where GIS, Geography and associated technologies can be taught and our next generation of GIS experts groomed.
Celebrating GIS Day is an integral part of the Centre’s Public Awareness Program, and this year’s conference activities will “kick off” with GIS DAY celebrations in the form of a GIS Day Competition between three schools, namely Abaco Central High, Moore’s Island All Age School and S.C. Bootle High School. The competition focuses on the students’ use of GIS to plan the location of a community entertainment centre for their peers. Students and teachers will have the opportunity to showcase the results of their project to an audience of their peers and invited guests. During this event, the Honorable Carl Bethel, Minister of Education will deliver the keynote address to the competition participants and invited guests.
Competition Awards and prizes will be presented at the Conference Opening Ceremony 20th November 2008 with the keynote address provided by Honorable Earl Deveaux M.P., Minister of the Environment with responsibility for The BNGIS Centre.
Teachers, students and the general public will also have the opportunity to attend interesting GIS related presentations, the map gallery and exhibits. |