CALL FOR PARTICIPATION AND PAPERS

Workshop on the Cognitive Approach to Modeling Environments (CAME) http://www.sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de/CAME
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/gia/came

to be held with
4th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2006) September 20-23, 2006 Muenster, Germany http://www.giscience.org


Workshop date: September 20, 2006


Workshop topics and aim:
Spatial characteristics of an environment determine human behavior in and conceptualization of this environment. The workshop addresses how this interaction between environment and human behavior can be adequately represented and captured in (computational) models of space.

The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers working on the incorporation of environmental characteristics into models of space, thereby building on findings from cognitive psychology and related fields. It will stimulate and foster discussion on the topic and identify future research questions.

Topics include:
A. Environmental characteristics:
* What are the environmental characteristics we need to address?
* How can we classify them (taxonomies, ontologies)?
* Do the "traditional" GIS models (vector, raster, networks) suffice
to capture the essence of those characteristics? Or should we
develop specific models from scratch?

B. Modeling environmental characteristics:
* How do we model specific types of environments (indoor/outdoor,
vista/environmental/geographical, loosely/fully structured)?
* Can we identify common elements and structures in these models?
* How can we identify salient environmental characteristics that
influence human behavior (structural/functional complexity,
landmarks, symmetries)?

C. Applications in communication and design:
* How can we identify and emphasize the information most relevant
for a particular environment?
* How can real-world applications, like LBS, benefit?
* How can we exploit our theoretical models when designing new
environments like a building or a neighborhood?


Important dates:
May, 15: deadline for paper submissions
July, 1: notification of acceptance
Sept., 20: workshop day at GIScience


Call for papers:
Please submit short papers in PDF format by e-mail to the workshop organizers. Length of papers should be no more than 4 pages or 2000 words.
Submitted papers will be reviewed by the program committee. Accepted papers will be chosen for presentation and publication as report of the Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition.


Further information can be found here:
http://www.sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de/CAME
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/gia/came

Organizers:
Kai-Florian Richter
Universitaet Bremen
richter@sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de

Urs Jacob Ruetschi
Universitaet Zuerich
uruetsch@geo.unizh.ch

Two Tenure Track Positions

Hattiesburg Mississippi 39406. The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Geography and Geology invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track assistant professors commencing August 2006.

Position 1. The department seeks a geographer with interests in Human-Environmental Geography. A broad range of subspecialties is welcome; however, our goal is to build strength in coastal studies. The appointment will work closely with our Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss. The undergraduate degree program at Gulf Park is one of the fastest growing majors on that campus. We seek a well-qualified and ambitious scholar who can continue to develop the program, as well as work closely with the geography faculty on the Hattiesburg campus.

Position 2. The department seeks a GIScience specialist with strengths in Quantitative Methods. The candidate will be expected to support the department’s growing strength in coastal science and/or urban economic geography. The candidate will be situated on the Hattiesburg campus.

Minimum qualifications for both positions are a doctorate in geography at the time of appointment and evidence of ability to teach effectively and to conduct quality research in the area of their specialization.

The Geography Program offers a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. in geography. The Department of Geography and Geology is a member of the School of Ocean and Earth Science, which includes: Marine Science, Coastal Science, the Gulf Coast Geospatial Center, Geography and Geology. The Geography faculty have a strong focus upon international research/field programs in Jamaica, Cuba, France, Great Britain, Andean South America and Central America, as well as the U.S. South. Please see our Web site for more details on this position and our department at http://www.usm.edu/geo/

Applications should include a personal statement of background and experience relevant to the position, especially research and teaching experience, a dated curriculum vitae, and names and addresses (including e-mail) of three referees. The review of applications will commence on February 24, 2006, and continue until a candidate is appointed. All materials should be sent to Dr. Clifton Dixon, Chair, Department of Geography and Geology, Box 5051, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5051. E-mail: c.dixon@usm.edu, voice: 601.266.4729, Fax: 601.266.6219. The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer; diversity is highly valued. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Visit the Southern Miss Web site at http://www.usm.edu.

AA/EOE/ADAI