Building for the Long Term
It’s been a full year, and we are now re-located in beautiful Lorena, TX. Taking some time during our current social distancing to update the website on a very productive year at Saint Louis University, and hope to be working with Baylor University soon. Be safe out there.
Continuing to broaden our skillsets here at Brickhouse Consultancy, LLC. Cooking for Waco Meals on Wheels at 7th and James Baptist Church, fighting hunger one hot lunch at a time.
My wife Nancy is Provost at Baylor University, and Baylor Magazine recently profiled Baylor First Gentleman, Brad Livingstone, and myself as Baylor’s new Second Gentleman.
https://www.baylor.edu/alumni/magazine/1904/index.php?id=979053
The 2020 Geo-Resolution Conference and St. Louis GeoFutures Initiative leadership teams have been closely following global, national, and local developments related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of conference and reception participants, invited speakers, and vendors is our highest priority.
Following the guidance of public health officials, the President of Saint Louis University, in consultation with the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, has decided to postpone the 2020 Geo-Resolution Conference (scheduled for March 25th), and the welcome reception and GeoFutures celebration planned for the evening of March 24th, out of appropriate caution and in line with social distancing recommendations.
We also recognize the important role that many institutions and individual participants involved in Geo-Resolution and GeoFutures, including SLU and the NGA, are playing in response to the pandemic. Addressing this public health emergency rightfully deserves their full attention at this time.
The Geo-Resolution Conference and the GeoFutures Initiative are focused on growing geospatial talent and investment in St. Louis – and putting St. Louis on the map as the global center of excellence for geospatial technology. This goal does not change in the slightest.
The Geo-Resolution and GeoFutures teams will continue their work in the interim, and we look forward to reconvening for the Geo-Resolution conference and celebrating the launch of the GeoFutures Strategic Plan at a later date. We will communicate details when more information is available.
Meanwhile, we encourage everyone to listen to and follow recommendations from public health officials. We appreciate your continued support of Geo-Resolution and GeoFutures.
Kenneth A. Olliff
Vice President for Research and Partnerships
Director, Saint Louis University Research Institute
Saint Louis University
773-612-6484 | kolliff@slu.edu
On October 8, 2019, SLU announced the establishment of the new Geospatial Institute that the GeoSLU has been shaping and supporting for almost two years. President Pestello made the announcement at the USGIF Geospatial Gateway Forum, formerly known as Tech Showcase West, with NGA Director VADM Sharp in attendance. Also known as GeoSLU, the new SLU Geospatial Institute brings together faculty and students from various disciplines across the campus to use geospatial research tools to solve real-world challenges and to enhance graduate and undergraduate education as the University prepares the next generation of geospatial scientists and innovators. Funding of the Institute is beginning to flow, and will support faculty and staff hires, and the facilities and infrastructure investments outlined in the GeoSLU Business Plan, and previous monthly reports. The following is the press release announcing the new SLU Geospatial Institute:
Saint Louis University Launches New Geospatial Institute
New Institute Focuses on Research, Training, Innovation, and Industry Partnerships
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 8, 2019) – Saint Louis University has established a new Geospatial Institute to support and accelerate research, training, and innovation in the rapidly growing fields of geospatial science and technology.
The news was announced Oct. 8 during the Geospatial Gateway Forum, formerly known as Tech Showcase West, which was hosted by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation in St. Louis. The announcement comes as the region continues to emerge as a national hub for all things geospatial.
Also known as GeoSLU, the new SLU Geospatial Institute brings together faculty and students from various disciplines across the campus to use geospatial research tools to solve real-world challenges and to enhance graduate and undergraduate education as the University prepares the next generation of geospatial scientists and innovators.
The SLU Geospatial Institute will:
The institute’s primary areas of research will include a wide array of themes involving artificial intelligence, machine learning and informatics to respond to the challenges of today. They include:
In launching the Geospatial Institute, SLU is seeking to strengthen collaborations with other universities, including Washington University in St. Louis and Harris-Stowe State University, as well as innovation partners in the region, including Cortex and T-Rex.
The Geospatial Institute also builds upon SLU’s existing relationship with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In January, the University signed a partnership agreement with the NGA and the organizations also partnered on a widely-attended GeoResolution conference in April.
Vasit Sagan, Ph.D., associate professor of geospatial science, will serve as the new institute’s faculty director, while Ness Sandoval, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, and Enbal Shacham, Ph.D., professor of public health, will serve as its associate directors. Robert Cardillo, former director of the NGA, will advise the institute as part of his work as a Distinguished Geospatial Fellow at SLU.
The origins of Saint Louis University’s new Geospatial Institute lie in an internal Big Ideas competition to define university-wide strategic research priorities. SLU’s ability to invest in geospatial science and other areas of research was greatly enhanced in 2018 when Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield made a historic $50 million gift to accelerate research growth at the University. GeoSLU is among the projects supported by the Sinquefield-funded SLU Research Institute.
For more about the SLU Geospatial Institute, visit slu.edu/geoslu.
Saint Louis was well-represented at GEOINT 2019 in San Antonio. The Saint Louis University booth was back at the Exposition, and for the first time, the City of Saint Louis sponsored a booth, featuring the STLMade campaign to draw entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Who and What: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and Saint Louis University (SLU) are co-sponsoring a new geospatial conference in Saint Louis to bring together govern- ment, academic and industry partners in order to grow the geospatial ecosystem in the Greater Saint Louis region.
When: April 9, 2019, 0800 – 1530
Where: Saint Louis University (SLU), Busch Student Center
Agenda to Include:
It was a pleasure to represent Saint Louis University at the 2018 US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) Academic Summit, and present on our progress toward a new Geospatial Institute @ SLU
Showing the flag for SLU at a recent Project Connect event, supporting efforts to develop the local geospatial workforce, and showcasing 
SLU geospatial research and training
