Geographic Information Systems Specialist Joins Geosciences Department

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Xuan Shi

The department of geosciences in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has announced the addition of Xuan Shi to its faculty this fall as an assistant professor. Shi comes to Fulbright College from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Geographic Information Systems, where he has conducted research since 2007.

“Dr. Shi has an extensive background in geography and GIS and is well-versed in some of the field’s latest technology,” said Ralph Davis, professor and chair of the department. “He has done excellent work with the National Science Foundation’s Computing in the Cloud and Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation projects.”

In addition to his research with the National Science Foundation, Shi has been a part of two projects sponsored by the Department of Energy. One study evaluated the potential energy production from tidal streams. A second study on ocean currents along the U.S. coast is ongoing. Shi was also one of the principle investigators for a research venture through a seed grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examining the obesity epidemic in the U.S. He is currently a co-principle investigator for two projects sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

“I am exited to come to the University of Arkansas,” said Shi. “The department of geosciences is growing quickly, and I look forward to being part of that expansion.”

Aside from these funded projects, Shi has received numerous scholarships and travel grants from institutions including the University Consortium of Geographic Information Science, the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, the Association of American Geographers and the International Geographical Union.

Between giving presentations at conferences around the U.S. and world and producing articles for journals and web-based publications, Shi has contributed to more than 50 instances of sharing his research findings with the scientific community.

Shi earned a bachelor of science in geography from Hubei University in China (1988) and a master of science in geography from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2001). He holds a doctorate in geography from the University of West Virginia (2007).