Research - Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
The W. E. Upjohn Center for the Study of GIS and Geographical Change at Western Michigan University continues a tradition of over 20 years of supporting administrative decision making through spatial awareness. Beginning as a Groundwater Education in Michigan Center in the early 1990's, we have evolved into a GIS research center with specialties in conversion of paper data to GIS-ready georeferenced images and geodatabases.Mary Upjohn Meader and Edwin E. Meader sponsored the center with a generous gift in October 2005. Examples of Mary's aerial photography are on display in the Center's gallery. The center honors Mary's grandfather, Dr. W.E. Upjohn, visionary founder of the Upjohn Company. In 2015, the Upjohn Center for the Study of Geographical Change at Western Michigan University extended its mission to provide GIScience training and research applications.