Geographic
information science (GISci) is a new discipline emerged from various
geographic information technologies including digital mapping,
geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global
positioning systems. It cuts across the conventional disciplinary
boundaries of informatics and various geosciences, and has become,
according to a recent article in Nature magazine, one of the three
important emerging and evolving fields along with biotechnology and
nanotechnology. Because of interdisciplinary and dynamically evolving
nature of the new discipline, there is a high demand for collaboration
among the individual research groups in Nordic and adjacent countries.
The Nordic Network in Geographic Information Science (NordGISci),
funded by NordForsk (Nordic Research Board), is intended to promote
advanced research (in both GIS as a technology and GISci as an emerging
discipline) and research training for young researchers in the region
through various organized activities.