Spotlights
Griffin Thompson - 2025 Iron Cartographer Winner
Congratulations to GVSU's own Griffin Thompson for winning the 2025 Iron Cartographer competition during the IMAGIN/MiCAMP Conference that ran June 1-3.
Thompson and other competitors were tasked in a live 60 minute event to provided data on a hypothetical Mount Michigan and were challenged to use ArcGIS Pro software to make the best map with Cartographic principles and map elements.
The combined Michigan Association of Geospatial Information Network (IMAGIN/ MiCAMP) and the
Michigan Communities Association of Mapping Professionals state-level conference
took place at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 1-3, 2025.
https://www.imagin.org/event-5937099
This IMAGIN/MiCAMP hosted an IRON Cartographer Competition modeled on the
IRON man physical endurance competitions.
During this June 2, 2025 live 60 minute competition, competitors were provided data on a
hypothetical Mount Michigan and were challenged to use ArcGIS Pro software to make the best map with
Cartographic principles and map elements.
Griffin Thompson and his poster was voted
the 2025 Iron Cartographer Winner, and see attached
file
for competition and winner photos.
In addition, Griffin Thompson and Prof. Alexandra (Ali) Locher gave a presentation on
"Habitat Hero: Using WebGIS to enhance Community Science" with the support of John Ball Zoo,
and the Geography & Sustainable Planning and NRM programs.
Thompson, Locher and the Zoo team have distributed native pollinator
plants/trees since 2023,
and have developed a
very Interactive Map/Dashboard to
show how the West Michigan community residents
have contributed to the health and beauty of this region.
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