I-GUIDE Summer School: Fostering Innovation Across Disciplines
Welcome to the I-GUIDE Summer School, an annual intellectual journey that transcends disciplinary boundaries to tackle the world's most complex challenges. Our Summer School is not just an event; it's a convergence of minds, ideas, and methodologies, shaping the future of geospatial understanding. In the face of intricate and pressing issues, a convergent research approach becomes essential. This approach integrates knowledge, tools, and perspectives from diverse disciplines to craft comprehensive solutions.
The Institute for Geospatial Understanding through an Integrated Discovery Environment (I-GUIDE) proudly hosts this annual Summer School that champions the spirit of Convergence Science. Rooted in the belief that some of the most pressing societal issues demand a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, I-GUIDE provides a unique platform for graduate students and early-career scholars to engage with cutting-edge concepts and methodologies.
Summer School 2026: Spatial AI & Convergence Science
The 2026 I-GUIDE Summer School will be another excellent opportunity to be a part of a community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. It will take place July 13-17, 2026, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
We are currently recruiting established scholars to serve as a Team leaders, bringing their own topics, datasets, or methods for the Summer School program. Applications for this role are due by Monday March 2, 2026. Leaders will have all expenses covered and are eligible for an honorarium or additional travel award.
Later this winter, we will invite graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early career scholars to apply as participants. As part of the program, all participants are fully supported with lodging, food, and travel expenses.
2025 Summer School: Spatial AI for Extreme Events and Disaster Resilience
The 2025 I-GUIDE Summer School took place August 4-8 on the UCAR campus in Boulder, Colorado and centered on the theme of Spatial AI for Extreme Events and Disaster Resilience. Collaborating with I-GUIDE team members, 26 graduate students and 5 team leaders worked to develop innovative solutions grounded in computation- or data-intensive geospatial data science.
2024 Summer School: Leveraging AI for Environmental Sustainability
The 2024 I-GUIDE Summer School took place August 5-9 on the UCAR campus in Boulder, Colorado and centered on the theme of Leveraging AI for Environmental Sustainability. Collaborating with I-GUIDE team members, 35 graduate students and early-career scholars embarked on a journey to develop innovative solutions grounded in computation- or data-intensive geospatial data science.
2023 Summer School: Convergence Science in Action
The 2023 I-GUIDE Summer School took place August 7-11 on the UCAR campus in Boulder, Colorado and centered on the theme of Convergence Science in Action. Collaborating with I-GUIDE team members, 35 graduate students and early-career scholars embarked on a journey to develop innovative solutions grounded in computation- or data-intensive geospatial data science.
Key Features
- Convergence Science in Action: Our Summer School is a testament to the power of Convergence Science, where participants navigate the intersection of various disciplines, strategically integrating knowledge, tools, and modes of thinking.
- Interactive Learning: Participants engage in a week-long immersive experience, collaborating with I-GUIDE members to develop novel solutions to computation- or data-intensive geospatial data science challenges.
- Diverse Application Areas: Each year, our program addresses critical topics such as climate change, biodiversity, water security, sustainable development, and social science data implications.
What to Expect
- Professional Collaborations: The program emphasizes collaborative and professional interactions, fostering an environment where participants learn to work comprehensively on convergence science problems.
- Cutting-Edge Topics: Delve into geoethics, geo-enabling reproducible and open science, geovisualization, and the latest in geoAI and spatial data science via cloud and high-performance computing.