University of Illinois, Department of Geography and GIS

06/03/2026

New research from the University of Illinois highlights how artificial intelligence is helping expand multilingual weather forecasts and emergency alerts across the United States.

Led by climate, meteorology and atmospheric sciences professor Joseph Trujillo-Falcón and collaborators, the study documents how AI-assisted translation tools are making critical weather information more accessible for millions of people.

The project also demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration at Illinois. GGIS graduate student Liam Llewellyn contributed geographic analysis combining GIS, weather, and census data to identify language translation needs for all 122 National Weather Service offices nationwide.

Read more about the study and the collaboration behind it:

Researchers advance first-of-its-kind AI tool for translating life-saving weather warnings across the US June 1, 2026 11:44 am by Lois Yoksoulian Physical Sciences and Media Editor Earth and Environmental Sciences Social Sciences Share on Facebook Share on X Share via email A new study led by Illino...

05/29/2026

PhD student, Gyudae "GD" Kim, was recently named a Jeremiah Sullivan Graduate Fellow by The Program in Arms Control & Domestic and International Security at the Illinois Global Institute.

His research studies how nuclear systems are sustained not only through technical and strategic means but also through communication systems that shape how those systems are understood and trusted. By focusing on documentary films as infrastructure, the project offers a new way to think about how knowledge is managed within high-security environments. It also has broader relevance for understanding how governments communicate complex technological risks in contexts where full transparency is not possible.

The ACDIS Jeremiah Sullivan Fellowship, named in honor of former ACDIS director and physics professor Jeremiah Sullivan, supports undergraduate and graduate students in conducting impactful research that contributes meaningfully to the field of national and international security studies and serves as a foundation for future scholarly or collaborative work. Recipients present their work in a seminar and publish in the Illini Journal of International Security.

05/26/2026

Crowdsourced air-quality data is helping fill gaps left by traditional environmental monitoring systems — but new research shows the data is shaped by more than technology alone.

GGIS professor Yue Lin found that people’s decisions about masking sensor locations are influenced by factors such as geography, income, education, and community context, raising important questions about privacy, trust, and data equity in citizen science.

Learn more about how this behavior might affect future studies: https://ggis.illinois.edu/news/2026-05-26/study-examines-how-location-privacy-concerns-shape-crowdsourced-socio-environmental

05/11/2026

The Illinois Global Institute has selected two graduate students from the department of geography and geographic information science to receive research awards and language fellowships.

Graduate Summer Research Awards (summer 2026)
- Sayak Roy, India. “Emergent Networks of Self-Organization: Communication Technologies, Social Infrastructure, and the Production of Everynight Lives.”

Graduate Language Fellowships (AY 2026-2027)
- Shoutao Wu, Quechua.

Congratulations to both!

05/07/2026

What happens when you follow a question far enough?

For some students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, it means crossing between disciplines—like history and GGIS—to better understand how we think, interpret, and represent the world.

GGIS student Jess Johnson is one of more than 1,000 LAS undergraduates pursuing multiple majors, navigating everything from historical analysis to cartography.

“You come to college to learn things,” Jess said. “There’s never been a day where I’ve had classes from both majors where I haven’t… realized that I learned something.”

Read more: https://ggis.illinois.edu/news/2026-04-30/double-life-ggis-undergraduate-jess-johnson-double-majors-history

04/01/2026

Students from GGIS will be part of the celebration—sharing their work, engaging with the community, and helping showcase the impact of environmental science at Illinois.

Stop by and see us!

Celebrate Earth Week with SESE and Environmental Sustainability from April 15–22

Join us for a week of activities highlighting sustainability, creativity, and community—from interactive experiences to student art and more—leading up to our Earth Day celebration on April 22!

Learn more about everything happening throughout the week:
go.illinois.edu/SESE-Earth-Day

03/23/2026

Meet Jordan McAlister, who joins Geography & GIS this spring as a Teaching Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Advisor. In this Q&A, he shares how travel, curiosity, and the built environment shape his teaching—and why inspiring students to explore the world matters most.

Read more: https://ggis.illinois.edu/news/2026-03-23/meet-jordan-mcalister-qa-ggis-newest-professor-and-advisor

03/11/2026

What happens when economic development collides with environmental protection?

A new study led by researchers at the University of Illinois examines a controversial mining operation in Bangladesh, revealing how tensions between commerce and conservation unfold on the ground.

The research, led by Illinois GGIS professor Jim Best and graduate student Sadiul Chyoul, analyzes documents and evidence related to the project to better understand the complex trade-offs communities face when natural resources are at stake.

Read the story to learn what the team discovered about the challenges of balancing development with protecting ecosystems: https://news.illinois.edu/study-documents-conflict-between-commerce-and-conservation-at-mining-operation-in-bangladesh/

02/27/2026

Attention Illinois GGIS alumni! We're hosting a reception for alumni attending the AAG Annual Meeting in San Francisco, and for any alumni in the Bay Area!

Join us on Wednesday, March 18th from 6-8 p.m
The Chieftain Irish Pub, 198 5th St.

Snacks and drinks will be provided. We hope to see you there!

02/18/2026

What if the future of “smart cities” isn’t as bright as it seems?

In his new book, GGIS professor David Wilson uses Dracula as a metaphor to explore the hidden costs of smart city development — from gentrification and displacement to the growing power of what he calls the “real estate state.”

In Dracula Urbanism and Smart City Mania: Urban Change in the Twenty-First Century, Wilson challenges the polished narrative of tech-driven urban progress and asks: Who are our cities really being built for?

Read more about Wilson’s research and the book here: https://news.illinois.edu/illinois-professors-book-explores-dracula-urbanism-the-dark-side-of-smart-city-development/