GIS  &  Information  Technology  Summer  Institute  in  Panama  

! Geographic   Information   Systems   (GIS)   skills   are   in   high  demand…    

! But   the   realities   of   implementing   GIS   projects   in   resource  constrained  environments  are  not  always  addressed.  

! Commercial   GIS   such   as   ESRI   /   ArcGIS   tend   to   be   expensive,  clunky  and  not  very  user  –  friendly  affairs…  

! So,  the  open-­‐source  geeks  came  in…  

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Time  to  take  GIS  outside  the  lab…  

! Open  –  source,  free  GIS  that  you  can  install  on  any  laptops  

! Proven  records  of  being  used  for  USAID,  Gates  and  PEPFAR  projects  

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Time  to  take  GIS  outside  the  lab…  

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Add  in  smartphone-­‐based  data  collection…  

And  you  have  a  neat  set  of  skills  to  offer  to  any   public   health   project   involving   needs  assessment,   monitoring   and   evaluation  and  routine  or  strategic  health  information  systems…  

 (So,  ALL  of  them  ??)  

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! NO  !  ! Having  some  practical  knowledge  of  Excel  will  not  hurt  though….  

Do  I  need  to  know  anything  about  GIS  or  spatial  analysis  to  register  for  the  course?  

Do  I  need  to  speak  Spanish?  

! Nope…  

! A  couple  of  days  in  Panama  City…    

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Where  will  all  this  take  place?  

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Then  we’re  off  to  Boquete….  

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Then  we’re  off  to  Boquete….  

! Small  mountain  town,  lots  of  amenities  ! (4th  largest  hub  in  Central  America  for  U.S.  retirees…)  

! Rural  environment  (coffee  plantations  and  volcanoes)    ! Tapestry  of  small  communities  and  multiple  environment  resources  à  Lots  of  possibilities  for  field  work.  

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Why  Boquete?  

! Morning  classes:  learn  about  GIS  architecture,  present  case  –  studies,  and  labs,  labs,  labs!  

 ! Afternoon:  usually  one  short  assignment  to  practice  the  skills  learned  in  class  that  day,  then  you’re  free  to  go  run  around.  

! Field  excursions:  Boca  del  Toro,  Volcan  Baru,  Queztal  trail…  

! Final  Assignment:  An  original  A  to  Z  data  collection,  analysis  and  mapping  study  

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What  will  we  do?  

! Taking   advantage   of   Payson’s   connections   and   well   –  established  networks  in  Panama  

! Possible   internship   with   UNDP,   Cathalac,   Victoria   Ward  (maternal   health   projects),   the   Smithsonian   Institute,   and  many  of  our  other  partners.  

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Post  –  course  Internships  

! Dates:  May  18  –  June  6,  2°15  

! Price  (not  including  airfare):  $  4,100  

! Housing  to  be  confirmed.  Expect  shared  room  in  guest  house  /  coffee  plantation.  

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When  are  we  leaving?  

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See  y’all  there!