Florida State University Department of Geography

A collaborative, interdisciplinary team with researchers from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has received an $840,000 grant from NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team.
The project will advance urban heat island mapping and work with local governments to accelerate the development of extreme heat action plans.

The project is led by FSU Professor of Geography and Public Health Chris Uejio in collaboration with Leiqiu Hu at the University of Alabama at Huntsville and Xiaojiang Li at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Extreme heat contributes to the deaths of more Americans than any other weather hazard,” Uejio said. “Partnering with the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, we will generate cutting edge heat and health information for eight local governments.”

To read more, visit news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2026/06/16/fsu-researcher-receives-nasa-grant-to-map-extreme-heat-and-protect-public-health

Florida State University’s Spatial Data Science Center won two awards from the FSU/AWS Research Acceleration Fund on May 3, 2026.

As cloud computing continues to reshape the boundaries of what’s computationally possible, researchers from FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) are positioning the university at the forefront of data-driven discovery.

The awards were 2 of 11 presented by FSU’s Office of Research and Information Technology Services, recognizing researchers across campus for their creativity and technical excellence in leveraging AWS cloud computing to advance scientific discovery. The event brought together FSU leadership and researchers for an award ceremony, a panel discussion, and a look at the latest Amazon Web Services (AWS) tools, closing with presentations from winners of FSU’s AI Maker Challenge. Each award included up to $20,000 in AWS credits.

Krafft Professor of Spatial Data Science and Director of the Spatial Data Science Center A. Stewart Fotheringham, Ph.D., led two collaborative teams of COSSPP researchers recognized at the event, along with Urban & Regional Planning colleague Mehak Sachdeva, Ph.D., with projects spanning electoral behavior analysis and the development of advanced tools for geographic modeling.

To read more, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/fsu-spatial-data-science-center-lands-two-awards-for-innovative-use-of-aws-cloud-computing

Our Geography and Spatial Data Science Center (SDSC) faculty and students attended the 2026 American Association of Geographers (AAG) annual meeting to learn and collaborate with colleagues across the discipline.

We were so glad to connect with 7 geography Ph.D. alumni in attendance, including:
Dr. Jihoon Jung (Assistant Prof. at University of North Texas)
Dr. James Gaboardi (Associate Research & Development Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Dr. Feilin Lai (Assistant Prof. at Lamar University)
Dr. Yoonjung Ahn (Assistant Prof. at University of Kansas)
Dr. J.T. Bandzuh (Assistant Prof. at Mount Aloysius College)
Dr. Kyusik Kim (incoming Assistant Prof at University of Tennessee)
Dr. Nicole Zampieri (Assistant Prof at University of Central Florida)

For more about FSU's Department of Geography, visit https://cosspp.fsu.edu/geography.

Amber DeJohn, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Florida State University, recently published a research paper titled “Mobility, ICT, and health: a built environment investigation of older Chinese migrants’ social isolation and lonelinessExternal Link” in BMC Public Health on February 7, 2025. The study examines how the ability to move through one’s community and the design of that community itself shapes feelings of loneliness and social isolation among older adult migrants.

“Being able to get around your community and feeling a sense of belonging is more important for reducing loneliness in older adults than socializing online,” Dr. DeJohn said. “An individual’s geography is key to understanding and supporting their health.”

Read more here: bit.ly/DeJohnSpotlight

The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has announced its 2026 Faculty Research, Teaching, and Service Award recipients.

Flowing from the COSSPP Strategic Plan, the college has developed a COSSPP Faculty Awards Series to honor high-achieving faculty in the areas of teaching, research, and service.

“It’s a great privilege to recognize 10 outstanding faculty members with this year’s awards,” said Dean Tim Chapin. “Their dedication and contributions reflect the strength of our college’s commitment to research, teaching, and service.”

Out of numerous nominees, the Faculty Awards Committee selected the following faculty to receive these honors (from top left to bottom right):

Ziqi Li, Matt Brooks, Carlisle Rainey, Keon-Hyung Lee, Katie Sherron, Alexandra Cockerham, John Reynolds, Meaghan McSorley, Simona Andrei, John Felkner.

To read more, visit the link in our bio (tr.ee/dfzAA4NcGY)!

FSU’s Geography Department hosted their monthly Colloquium on Friday, April 3, 2026.

The event, titled, “Creative Participatory GeoMethods for Co-creating Community Health Knowledge” was a lecture based event hosted by Shamayeta Bhattacharya, Ph.D., assistant Professor in the Department of Community Engagement and Leadership at Point Park University and the director of their Ph.D. in Community Engagement program.

The Colloquium was followed by a social hour at Proof at FSU inside the Student Union.

For more information about the event, click here: cosspp.fsu.edu/department-of-geography-hosts-april-2026-colloquium

Support your college today!

Your gift will support the COSSPP General Development Fund, which helps meet the College's emergent needs and supports students in having an enriching experience at FSU!

Give in honor of a professor, parent, student, or someone who impacted your FSU experience.

Learn more at the link in our bio (give.fsu.edu/cosspp)!

The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy invites our Spring 2026 graduates to join us for a Graduation Celebration at Bellamy’s First Floor Atrium on Friday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., before FSU’s Commencement Ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

Students can enjoy light refreshments, pick up a small congratulatory gift, and connect with our Assistant Director of Student and Alumni Engagement, Elizabeth Jones, and our Career Center Liaison, Jessica O’Neill, during our graduation celebration.

Our College will be providing professional cap and gown photos in the atrium. Be sure to come with your friends and family- no RSVP necessary!

Read more at the link in our bio (COSSPP News)

Join us for a session with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)'s Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator, Kara Collins-Gomez and Claire Mazur.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at 4 p.m. in the DeVoe L. Moore Conference Room (BEL150E). Those unable to attend in person may join via Zoom (pre-registration required).

This event is part of Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week at Florida State University.

Read More at the link in our bio (COSSPP Events)! bit.ly/2026-oppaga-workshop

Jasmine Lawson — second-year student majoring in geography — was invited to participate in the University of Florida’s (UF) annual undergraduate Future of Florida Summit (FOF).

The 2026 FOF, titled Designing Tomorrow: Florida’s Growth and Development, invited 70 students from across Florida to Gainesville to collaborate on policy proposals focused on managing the state’s growth and development.

“The 2026 Future of Florida Summit was such an incredible weekend,” Lawson said. “I attended two breakout sessions during that weekend: economic development and the environment. Both sessions had a set of three experts who specialize in public policies on local and state levels. I learned about ways infrastructure can hinder population growth in Florida, such as increased costs for a new bridge within a city due to project delays. I also learned about the careful preservation of an ecosystem through land-use plans, such as the value of our land for recreational purposes.”

Read more: https://cosspp.fsu.edu/student-spotlight-jasmine-lawson/