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USC academic wins spatial science award
A University of the Sunshine Coast Geospatial Analysis lecturer has been recognised for his outstanding work in the spatial industry by the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI).
Dr Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava of Sippy Downs recently won the 2011 Queensland Spatial Excellence Award in the category of “Education and Professional Development”.
Spatial sciences include fields like cartography, surveying and geographical information systems (GIS).
They involve the measurement, management, analysis and display of information describing the Earth, including natural and built environments.
Dr Srivastava said he was delighted about being recognised for his innovative way of teaching GIS at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
“The award is for practising academics and educators who have substantially contributed – through teaching, research and publication, or professional activities – to the study and promotion of the field of spatial science,” he said.
“I have been teaching GIS courses at the University for the past five years and, over this period, the number of students enrolling in GIS courses has increased.
“Many former students are now working with the local council and other government organisations.”
Dr Srivastava said he had adopted a unique approach to teaching spatial sciences and surveying to suit students from multidisciplinary backgrounds, including Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Engineering, Education and Communication.
“I engage students for learning with a combination of physical and computer-based high-tech and low-tech activities,” he said.
“Students are taught how to use surveying and mapping techniques to overlay a hand-drawn map of the University on Google Earth, and also put three dimensional models of the University’s buildings and kangaroos on Google Earth. And while doing this, students traverse through different conceptual gateways of the discipline.”
Dr Srivastava’s work on facilitating students’ conceptual understanding of spatial science is expected to be published in leading international journals including Journal of Geography in Higher Education, and Pedagogical Research in Higher Education.
He is currently nominated in the same category for the Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards, with the winners to be announced in New Zealand next week (23 November).
— Michelle Widdicombe