Environmental Studies Graduate Receives Travel Grant for National Geospatial Science Workshop
Dipesh Oli, a recent Kentucky State University graduate with an M.S. in Environmental Studies, received a competitive travel grant to participate in a specialized CyberTraining workshop on geospatial science for disaster management. The workshop took place on June 27 as part of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) Symposium 2025 in Laramie, Wyoming.
Organized by Texas A&M University, the workshop was titled "CyberTraining: Broadening Adoption of Cyberinfrastructure and Geospatial Science Research and Workforce for Disaster Management." The event brought together leading scholars, practitioners, and graduate students to advance geospatial data analytics and decision-making tools for disaster resilience.
"The training enhanced my understanding of high-performance geo-computational tools and their application in disaster management and environmental monitoring," Oli said. "This experience not only strengthened my technical skills but also broadened my understanding of how research can support real-world resilience solutions."
Dr. Buddhi Gyawali, Oli's advisor and professor of geospatial technology applications, emphasized the broader impact of this training.
"Dipesh's participation in this workshop has further developed KSU's capacity to assist with disaster education, preparedness, and management research and outreach projects in Eastern Kentucky," Gyawali said. "Dipesh will utilize the knowledge and skills to design educational materials integrating geospatial tools to forecast surface runoff and its impacts in communities affected by surface mining in Eastern Kentucky."
Kentucky State University's support and engagement in such training workshops expands the University's education, research, and outreach capacity in innovative technology applications, geospatial mapping, and visualization techniques for sustainable natural resource management, environmental stewardship, and disaster preparedness.
Oli's selection for the competitive grant showcases both the merit of his academic work and his potential to contribute to interdisciplinary, applied research.
The workshop was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded CyberTraining program (Award #2321069) and featured modules on advanced geospatial data visualization, machine learning for spatial vulnerability assessment, and the integration of cyberinfrastructure to understand human-environment interactions. These tools aim to enhance community resilience across different disaster scenarios.