Woodwell Scientists Recognized for Arctic Maps

At this summer’s Esri User Conference, the world’s largest geospatial technology conference, Woodwell Climate Research Center scientists Jackie Dean and Heidi Rodenhizer were recognized with top cartography awards for maps illustrating the challenges threatening those on the front lines of climate change and the beauty of a personal cycling journey through Norwegian landscapes. This is the fourth year in a row that Woodwell has won major awards at the Esri conference.

Rising Waters, Sinking Ground: Navigating Climate Threats for Community Relocation, by Jackie Dean, was a finalist for Outstanding Spatial Analysis. Across Alaska, warming temperatures are intensifying climate risks – thawing permafrost, erosion and flooding, catastrophic ground collapse, and increasingly frequent storms – that threaten the safety of Alaska Native communities like Nunapicuaq, forcing them to consider relocation as the only option to protect their villages. The map illustrates the effects of climate change and rapid warming, as well as the factors that influence considerations and efforts to relocate. It was developed in partnership with Nunapicuaq residents Morris Alexie, Woodwell’s Community Engagement Specialist, and Vincent Wassillie, Permafrost Pathways Liaison for Nunapicuaq, to support the community’s chosen site and identify more suitable, higher ground their community could safely and viably move to.

“It is incredibly important to build maps in collaboration with Indigenous communities on the front lines of the climate crisis right now, to share their reality and the intricacies and adversities that they are being faced with,” said Jackie Dean, research assistant at Woodwell Climate Research Center. “Without serious intervention, climate change will only continue to impact people, and thoughtful adaptation and resilience will be increasingly critical for communities across Alaska and the globe.”

Norway By Bicycle, by Heidi Rodenhizer, received the International Cartographic Association and International Mapping Industry Association (ICA-IMIA) Recognition of Excellence in Cartography award, and illustrates the expedition Heidi and her husband undertook once they could travel safely following the global COVID-19 pandemic. The map depicts the path that took them across deep-cut fjords lined with brightly colored houses, through the alpine tundra, over bright green islands, and to the summit of Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain in Norway.

“The map allowed me to capture the data of three months of adventure on one page as a reminder of the stunning and highly varied landscapes and topography of Norway that both inspired and, at times, impeded our tour,” said Heidi Rodenhizer, research scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center. “Now our trip and days of travel are memorialized visually, in a display that merges Norway’s spectacular scenery with the journey we took, and allows us to revisit and share the experience with others.”

“These maps show the range of impact and narrative work that cartography is able to provide, tracking critical data for scientists solving the problems of climate change and serving as vehicles for storytelling and amplifying important lived experiences,” said Greg Fiske, Director of Geospatial Technology at Woodwell. “We are excited to continue exploring our understanding of geospatial data and sharing these complex stories in an accessible manner.”

The Esri User Conference, held annually in San Diego, hosts over 20,000 geospatial professional attendees and hundreds of maps submitted for the gallery. Woodwell Climate has developed a noteworthy partnership with Esri, the industry leader in mapping software, and has attended the conference for decades. From art exhibits to scientific journal articles, Woodwell prioritizes cartography as a means to transform complex environmental data into clear, accessible visual stories that can reach broad audiences. 

To learn more, view Rising Waters, Sinking Ground here and Norway By Bicycle here