Esri Chief Scientist Receives Honors

REDLANDS, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Esri chief scientist Dawn J. Wright, PhD, has received the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Presidential Achievement Award. Presented at the AAG annual meeting on February 28, 2012, the award recognizes Wright's outstanding work as a scientist, researcher, author, and advocate for marine conservation and for her contributions to geographic science.

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"Dawn Wright is a researcher of exceptional achievement whose work highlights the remarkable breadth and diversity of contemporary geography," said AAG president Audrey L. Kobayashi. "Wright's work to build geospatial technology standards for ocean mapping has enabled the scientific community to share information and collaborate on research projects. She has championed geographic information systems for marine research that are laying the groundwork for more sustainable ocean resources policies. The AAG Presidential Achievement Award affirms the benefit her efforts have brought to geographic science."

As chief scientist, Wright leads Esri's natural sciences efforts and drives the company's ocean and science initiatives. She is also a professor of geography and oceanography at Oregon State University, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a fellow of Stanford University's Aldo Leopold Leadership Program in science communication. Her research interests include geographic information science; marine geography; benthic terrain and habitat characterization; and the processing and interpretation of high-resolution bathymetry, video, and underwater photographic images. Wright received her doctorate in physical geography and marine geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"Dr. Wright's strong background in geographic information science and expertise in GIS [geographic information systems] have enabled her to bring greater perspective to scientists throughout the world who map and analyze terrains, ecosystems, and habitats," said Jack Dangermond, Esri president,  "The AAG has been a force in promoting technology for geographic science. By honoring a capable scientist who is also skilled in geospatial systems affirms the association's commitment to a community that is expanding its approaches to research and analysis."       

AAG is a nonprofit scientific and educational society founded in 1904. For more than 100 years, AAG has contributed to the advancement of geography. Its members, from more than 60 countries, share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG's annual meeting. The AAG Presidential Achievement Award was established by the AAG Council to recognize individuals who have made long-standing and distinguished contributions to the discipline of geography.

About Esri
Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news.

Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

SOURCE Esri

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