The DND Lab is at the intersection of environmental science, socio-economic studies, and telling very human stories. We may not slay dragons, but we do us advanced GIS technology, data analytics, and digital storytelling to explore issues ranging from environmental economics to human trafficking. Our research aims to uncover the hidden networks and narratives using big data and open-source intelligence to transform science into actionable insights that can inform policy and intervention strategies. Do you want to see the world the way we do?
Check out some of our latest web mapping products. From StoryMaps to Dashboards, creating effective publicly available platforms can help build awareness about ongoing scientific and social research projects.
Learn more about the Tropical Dry Forest and combining mixed medias for science communication
Learn more about the soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from the First World War, and explore the stories of the Métis soldiers who fought
This is one of fastest disappearing forests in the world, and we work to understand the landscape level changes of this ecosystems. From climate to human impacts, we work with remote sensing and GIS to understand this precious ecosystem's past and predict its future.
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Human trafficking is the second largest illegal business in the world behind the drug trade. We work with open source intelligence and geospatial analytics to uncover new data sources and patterns to find this crime.
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History doesn't just happen in books anymore. There are thousands of words, books, and websites now online that are data waiting to be uncovered and studied. Beyond that history always happens somewhere. Take a unique look into the historical world by understanding where people were from, where they were moving too, and what stories they told.
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They say money makes the world go around, so we try to evaluate the economic of ecosystem services and climatic changes. From labor costs and GDP, to the social cost of carbon, we try to understand externalities in the environment.
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With the University of Southern Mississippi Honors College I develop sophomore level seminar courses that bridge technology and humanity. I originally developed a course on talking about the use and ethics of AI. Called Minds, Morals, & Machines we explored how AI shows up in literature and the benefits and perils of rapid AI development. More recently I developed Digital Shadows which looks at the benefits but also the human costs of the massive digital age we live in with a focus on what it has done to privacy.
From learning about green washing to understanding the rise of China as a global economic power hub - economic geography and sustainable development are two geography course that will change how you think about the world around you. Learn about policy, foreign relations, and the things you can do right at home. You won't listen to world news quite the same way after.
All maps lie. Do you know how the maps you are looking at are lying to you? GIS and Web Mapping can unlock new ways to analyze data and share your story. I base my courses off the idea that everything happens somewhere. Beyond that, telling a cohesive and simple story will help you learn to communicate and prompt action. Learn to make maps for you instead of getting lost in the shuffle.
Check out my GIS and other learning tutorial series on YouTube. There are videos with ESRI, QGIS, and other softwares. Follow along from collecting data to publishing webmaps online. Also check out the tutorial center here for access to some of the datasets.
Learning Resources
Data Analysis Walkthroughs - Coming Soon