Mapping the Future of Collaboration: A Look Back at the GeoCommunities Workshop

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, a dynamic group of faculty, staff, and researchers from across the University of Minnesota (UMN) gathered in the Mississippi Room at Coffman Memorial Union for the "Mapping Minds: Cultivating GeoCommunities at the University" workshop. The event served as a powerful launchpad for the GeoCommunities Initiative, which connects centers, institutes, and individuals to foster collaboration on pressing real-world challenges.

Opening remarks from Kim Kirkpatrick, AVP of the Research Innovation Office and Tom Fisher, GeoCommunities Faculty Director, set the stage for an evening of connection and innovation.

Highlights included insightful presentations on GeoCommunities’ pioneering Seed Grant projects, which showcased the tangible impact of interdisciplinary research on issues ranging from water and waste to climate and communities. 

Following the presentations, Tom Fisher, Len Kne and the U-Spatial team unveiled two new mapping tools:

  • World Terrestrial Ecosystems - Explores how communities across the globe are connected in novel and unexpected ways.
  • The UMN Centers and Institutes Map - Illustrates how the UMN research community is connected by shared interests aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
GeoCommunities World Terrestrial Map.
The GeoCommunities World Terrestrial Map.  
Closeup of the UMN Centers and Institutes Map.
Closeup of the UMN Centers and Institutes Map showing of the connections across the UMN. 

The unveiling was followed by an interactive session where attendees explored the UMN Centers and Institutes Map in more detail, allowing individuals to find themselves and their work within the university's broader research ecosystem. As participants made new discoveries, the room was buzzing with energy, leading to lively networking and group discussions where colleagues forged new connections and provided valuable feedback on the maps.

The event concluded with a look ahead at the next steps for building and strengthening the GeoCommunities network. Thank you to all who participated in making this workshop a resounding success. Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved as we continue to build a network committed to sustainable, equitable, and resilient solutions.