It’s an age when it’s increasingly difficult to get lost. When a smartphone just a pocket away typically holds the answer to where you are, where you are heading and how long it will take to get there.
Except in some places in the world, maps don’t even yet exist for communities.
Enter Melissa Allen, Peace Corps’ Office of Innovation virtual humanitarian mapping intern and senior geography and global studies major at University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Allen will host UNL’s first Mapathon on the second floor lobby of Hardin Hall as part of the Lavin Memorial seminar two-day event. The mapathon is free, guests need not have mapping experience to attend, and free pizza will be provided.
The purpose of the mapathon is to map villages and cities where Peace Corps volunteers are operating. After a quick training session on OpenStreetMaps Task Manager, an easy-to-use online mapping tool, people will work together to map one entire village by the end of the event.
Stewart Mills, Peace Corps returned volunteer and recruiter, also will speak during the event about the Peace Corps’ goals and importance in the developing world.
Registration is open to everyone, and though walk-ins are welcome, a headcount for pizza ordering is preferred. Register at http://go.unl.edu/dqm2.
For more information, email Allen at mallen4991@gmail.com.
— Shawna Richter-Ryerson, School of Natural Resources communications associate
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/ypr6