by American Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is proud to announce the results of the inaugural class of EthicalGEO Fellows. Detailed below are summaries of the projects each Fellow completed after a year of research and fieldwork, made possible with support from Omidyar Network.
Mr. Greg Babinski, Marketing and Business Development Manager for the King County GIS Center, developed a set of guidelines for public agencies using GIS for equity and social justice. Many public agencies have begun to apply an equity and social justice (ESJ) lens to the development of public policies and the allocation of financial resources for projects and programs. This document represents a conceptual approach for the effective use of geographic information science and technology to support ESJ programs. Mr. Babinski provides a foundational background for the problem, proposes a conceptual GIS for ESJ lifecycle, and then outlines best GIS for ESJ practices for data management, data sources, geospatial analysis, cartographic design, general data visualization, and the use of interactive GIS-based dashboards.
Mr. William Perry Evans, a manager with Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) in Tanzania, sought to answer one primary question—how can we make land rights accessible to the urban poor in Tanzania, with an eye to creating a model for the rest of the developing world? His team’s answer, as you will read in the report, is community cadastres.
This interactive map shows a comparative analysis between cadastral data obtained using an inexpensive u-bloxSED-F9P GNSS receiver ($200), and a more expensive, SOUTH S86 RTK GNSS Surveying System ($7000) used by a professional surveying company. The visualization shows clearly how these 20 plots practically overlap – the more scientifically robust evidence comes from using Precise Point Positioning, where Mr. Evans’ team found extremely high levels of position accuracy (under 5 centimeters).
Ms. Erica Hagen, Director of Map Kibera Trust and GroundTruth Initiative, developed a framework and launched an international conversation guiding the act of mapping in vulnerable communities. The GeoEthics in Vulnerability Principles are part of a living document, currently open for comments.
Ms. Hagen on her project: “Today’s world of geospatial technology and data is evolving quickly. However, the people who stand to benefit most from improving technologies, including mapping, are instead increasingly left out of key conversations, opportunities, and developments that center around their lives and their data. This report seeks to outline some ways in which ethics should inform our mapping with and for vulnerable communities. I first summarize existing frameworks (such as responsible data) which are relevant to ethical mapping, then look at where geo-data may need its own framing. I propose both a draft framework for ethical mapping with vulnerable populations and areas for further discussion. This is a draft and therefore needs YOUR feedback! Please help by sending comments to info@ethicalgeo.org.”
Dr. David Padgett, Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory at Tennessee State University, explored the democratization of geospatial technology and produced a report and a participatory mapping tutorial for communities fighting for environmental justice.
Fr. Michael Rozier, Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy at Saint Louis University, conducted a national survey to answer “how is my location my identity?” Fr. Rozier discusses the results of his GeoLocation and Self-Identity survey, which spanned themes of technology, privacy, data access, and personal identity in two video presentations.
In this first video, Fr. Rozier discusses the demographics of his survey sample, methodology, and how our location–where we are–influences our identity–who we are.
In part two of his results, Fr. Rozier discusses the use of health-related geotechnology, opinions of privacy, and beliefs of access to data among survey respondents.
Dr. Dara Seidl, Associate Professor of GIS at Colorado Mountain College, created the Geoprivacy Video Series, a resource for educators teaching ethical issues related to location data collection. The series of eight videos covers topics from the false identification of crime suspects using GPS data to the use of location tracking to vet job applicants. Each video link contains a short film and a PDF of activities, articles, and discussion points that high school and college instructors can use to enrich the privacy conversation in their classrooms.
The EthicalGEO Initiative launched in the summer of 2019 and has supported seven Fellows conducting research on the ethical implications of geospatial data and tools. In addition to our fellowships, EthicalGEO curates a Knowledge Repository of resources for scholars at the intersection of ethics and geospatial sciences, supports the development of the Locus Charter advancing best practices for location data use internationally, and hosts the Location Tech Task Force, a series of events featuring experts examining the ethical use of geospatial technology and location tracking during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Vice Provost & Professor, New York University
Founder, Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Charlton is the Vice Provost and Professor at New York University, and author of “Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice, From the AfroNet to Black Lives Matter.” He founded the Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies. His recent work focuses on the intersections of race, digital media, and racial justice activism.
Associate Editor and Director of Projects, Migrant-Rights.org
Vani Saraswathi is the Associate Editor and Director of Projects, Migrant-Rights.org, and the author of Stories of Origin: The Invisible Lives of Migrants in the Gulf. Vani moved to Qatar in 1999, working with several local and regional publications, and launching some of Qatar’s leading periodicals during her 17-year stint there. During her stay in Qatar she, along with likeminded people, mobilized a grassroots community to help migrants in distress. She also reported regularly on human rights issues in Qatar for publications in India.
Since 2014, in her role with Migrant-Rights.org, she reports from the Gulf states and countries of origin. She also organizes advocacy projects and human rights training targeting individual employers, embassies, recruitment agents, and businesses in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, working with nationals and longterm residents in these countries. A special emphasis is on female migrants, including domestic workers. Much of her advocacy effort is geared towards mainstreaming issues facing female migrant workers. She is a member of the Migration Advisory Group (previous Policy Advisory Committee) of ILO ROAS. She has worked with ILO Addis Ababa on training modules for labor attaches being deployed to the Gulf states. She contributes as an expert commentator on issues related to human rights in the GCC for various international publications and at international forums, including various UN forums.
Migrant-Rights.org is a one of its kind bi-lingual content based advocacy platform that focusses on the GCC states and the corridors of migration, Asia & Africa. It was started 16 years ago by activist Esra’a El Shafei. Vani divides her time between Qatar, other GCC states, and India.
Professor of Practice, Harvard University
Ambassador Samantha Power served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2013-2017, and as human rights advisor to President Barack Obama on the National Security Council from 2009-2013. Power won the Pulitzer Prize for her book “A Problem from Hell”: America in the Age of Genocide. Her newest book is the New York Times bestseller The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir, about her life in Ireland, her immigrant experience in the US, and her career as a war correspondent, human rights advocate, and diplomat. Currently she is on the faculty at Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School.
Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Sue has previously served as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She has also served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Information Operations Center and senior cyber advisor to the Director of the CIA.
Former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
Vince served as a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps who most recently served as Deputy Commander at United States Cyber Command. He previously served as the 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Former Deputy Director, National Security Agency
Chris has served over 41 years of federal service in the Department of Defense including 28 years at the National Security Agency and over seven years as its Deputy Director. He began his career at NSA as a computer scientist within the National Computer Security Center followed by tours in information assurance, policy, time-sensitive operations, and signals intelligence organizations.
President, The Cardillo Group
Robert became the sixth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in 2014. Prior to leading the NGA, Cardillo served as the first Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration.
Senior Campaign Organizer, Mijente
Jacinta is the Senior Campaign Organizer at Mijente. She previously worked at PODER (Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research) in Mexico. She was the lead organizer for the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice Congress of Day Laborers.
Executive Director, Just Futures Law
Paromita is a leader in the immigrants’ rights movement. She has created or helped produce dozens of resources and reports for immigrant communities impacted by policing and immigration enforcement, including detainer policies and technology surveillance.
Co-Founder, United States Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network
Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
Desi’s interests are social demography, race and ethnicity, and social stratification. She was raised on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana where she previously ran for her Tribal Council. She is an appointed adviser to the Director of the United States Census Bureau as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations.
Director of Policy & Partnerships, Algorithmic Justice League
Aaina is an AI & Human Rights Consultant, formerly one of the first members of the Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning team at the World Economic Forum. She is a human rights lawyer by training, having received a Masters of Law focused on Tech Policy & Human Rights at NYU.
Knowledge Director, The GovLab and Responsible Data for Children
Young is the Knowledge Director at The GovLab, where he leads research efforts focusing on the impact of technology on public institutions. He has authored or co-authored a number of extended works on new approaches for improving governance with technology. He is also the Network Coordinator of the GovLab-chaired MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Opening Governance.
Chair, Council for Global Equality
Mark helped launch the Council for Global Equality to encourage a clearer and stronger American voice on international LGBT and intersex human rights concerns. In 2016, he provided the first-ever testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the state of LGBT rights around the world. Today, Mr. Bromley and his colleagues provide regular briefings on trends impacting LGBT individuals globally. He also monitors the U.N. human rights system and has conducted research on sexual violence as a war crime.
Incoming Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Steve has served as a deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of State, where he had responsibility for Africa policy, international labor affairs, and international religious freedom. Previously he was the director of the office of policy at the U.S. Agency for International Development, and also served as counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he oversaw U.S. foreign assistance programs, and international organizations.
Founder and Executive Director, Equidem Research & Consulting
Mustafa Qadri is the Founder and Executive Director of Equidem Research and Consulting. He is a human rights research and advocacy expert with over 15 years of experience in government and public international law, journalism and the non-governmental sector. He is the author of several landmark human rights reports into the construction industry, civil and political rights issues, and media freedom, and has carried out human rights investigations in several countries.