Summer 2026 Newsletter

Two students relax in hammocks strung between trees on a sunny university campus lawn. One hammock is bright green and teal, while the other is light blue and grey. In the foreground, a vibrant bed of yellow daffodils is in full bloom. In the background, a paved campus pathway cuts across the expansive green grass, with a few other students walking or sitting under the shade of mature trees on a bright spring day. Photo by University of Maryland

Dear GeoTerps and friends,

As another academic year comes to a close, I would like to recognize several colleagues whose leadership has helped shape the Department of Geographical Sciences and thank them for their service.

My deepest thanks go to Leila De Floriani for her thoughtful and caring leadership of our graduate program from 2021 to spring 2026. I am especially grateful for the support she provided when I first became chair. Leila has been an invaluable academic partner, trusted advisor and one of GEOG's key leaders.

I am delighted that Kathleen Stewart has agreed to serve as our next Graduate Director. This is a particularly challenging time for graduate education and for our diverse international cohort of Ph.D. students, and I can think of no one better suited for the role. At the same time, I want to thank Kathleen for nearly a decade of leadership of the Center for Geospatial Information Science. Having been involved almost from its inception, she helped build CGIS into one of the nation's leading centers for geographic information science.

As Kathleen transitions from that role, I am pleased to welcome Taylor Oshan as the new Director of CGIS. Taylor brings fresh ideas and perspectives that will help ensure the center's continued growth and impact. I would also like to thank Chris Justice for guiding the GeoInnovation Center through its formative years and helping drive the department's growth in Earth observation science, and welcome Yiqun Xie as the center's new Director. I am excited to see the opportunities that his leadership will create, particularly in the rapidly expanding area of GeoAI.

Finally, my heartfelt congratulations to Yiqun Xie and Xiaopeng Song on their promotion to Associate Professor with tenure. This recognition is richly deserved. While none of us are surprised, we are nonetheless tremendously proud of their accomplishments and delighted to celebrate this important milestone with them.

Tatiana Loboda

Chair and Professor

Visit the Chair's Blog for timely perspectives and insights.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Study: Nearly One-Third of Global Tree Loss May Be Permanent

Rising Seas Could 'Drown' Mangroves, Release Carbon

Grand Challenges: The Climate Resilience Network

An aerial, high-angle view of a wildfire burning through a dense forest. A long, glowing line of orange flames snakes through the center of the frame, dividing the charred, dark brown trees from the lush green canopy. Thick plumes of white and gray smoke billow upward, partially obscuring the forest floor.

Global Forest Loss Rates Drop, But Fire Threats Rise

Aerial wide shot of a large coal-fired power plant nestled in a lush, mountainous valley. Two massive, slender concrete chimneys dominate the center, flanked by a shorter white cooling tower emitting a plume of steam. To the left, a large pile of coal sits near conveyor belts and rail lines, while a river curves around the facility in the foreground, all set against a backdrop of rolling green hills and a hazy blue mountain range under a warm, sunset-lit sky.

New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Analysis Released

An aerial, top-down view shows a forage harvester and a tractor working in tandem to harvest a cornfield. The frame is diagonally split between rows of standing green crops and the brown, tilled earth of the harvested area. As they move, the harvester’s spout continuously discharges grain into the tractor’s trailer.

Research Shows 6% Increase in Global Cropland Area Over the Last Decade

A close-up, medium shot of a small, fuzzy brown, bamboo lemur with large, copper-colored eyes. The lemur is clinging to a thick, textured tree branch with its dark, five-fingered hands, looking slightly to the right with a curious expression. The background is a soft-focus lush green foliage dappled with sunlight.

Wildlife Trade Raises Risk of Disease Spread to Humans

Complications Lurk Behind Surging Interest in Biofuels

A map of the United States showing the geographic distribution of maize and soybean crops, primarily concentrated in the Midwest and along the Mississippi River.

High-Resolution Maps Reveal Greater Details of Crop Fields Across the U.S.

An outdoor photograph of Sergii Sakun standing with his arm around his brother in a sunny garden. On the left, Sergii wears a backward black cap, a large blue Umbro jersey, and patchwork shorts. On the right, his younger brother wears a white graphic t-shirt and green shorts. Both are smiling warmly against a background of lush green bushes and red flowers.

Looking at Home From Space

From post-Soviet Ukraine to the University of Maryland, Associate Professor Sergii Skakun (left) built a career in satellite data, remote sensing and machine learning now used to monitor agriculture in wartime.

A professor in a dark patterned dress and a woman in a black blazer and pink top sit in chairs facing each other, engaged in a discussion. Behind them, a large digital screen displays PhD Appreciation Day.

Tatiana Loboda Reappointed Chair of Geographical Sciences
UMD Researchers Join National Effort to Use GeoAI to Predict Food System Instability
GEOG Celebrates Graduating Doctoral Students & Alumna Who Supports them (pictured)
New Project Helps Rhode Island Track How Trees Combat Climate Change
UMD Researchers Advance Wildfire Management at NASA FireSense Workshop in Alabama
GEOG Honors 100+ High School Students at Annual Awards Banquet
Regional Workshop Empowers Nine African Nations With AI-Driven Crop Yield Forecasting
NASA-Funded Project Adds AI Expertise to Improve Disease Forecasting

AWARDS AND HONORS

Associate Research Professor Adrián Pascual Receives BSOS Early Career Impact Award
Research Professor Emeritus Eric Vermote Named 2025 Pecora Award Recipient
Professor Leila De Floriani Named Distinguished University Professor
Ph.D. Student Xin Dong Receives Summer Research Fellowship to Advance Malaria Research
MSGIS Student Peter Seabrook Nominated for Esri Innovation Program Award
Associate Professor Taylor Oshan, Doctoral Student Honored at AAG Annual Meeting
Two GEOG Ph.D. Students Selected for Wylie Dissertation Fellowship
Ph.D. Student Receives American Geographical Society Fellowship

VIDEO

GEOG held its annual Awards Ceremony this spring, spotlighting the achievements of students, faculty

The Department of Geographical Sciences held its annual Awards Ceremony in the spring, introducing three new awards: Staff Appreciation, GEOG Ambassador and GEOG Linchpin Award. See the list of awardees

STAFF CORNER

Close-up portrait of a man with short brown hair and round glasses, wearing a dark plaid button-up shirt and a black smartwatch. He is sitting at a wooden desk with his arms crossed, looking forward with a neutral expression.

Quick Chat With John Jasen

Originally from central New York and now based in Pasadena, Md, Jasen has been director of IT in the department since March 2023, bringing a career rooted in research computing, cybersecurity and higher education technology.

Read the Q&A

NEW MAP ALERT

A 3D topographic land cover map of Albania, featuring a color-coded legend and pronounced shaded relief terrain. The rugged, mountainous interior is dominated by green representing trees and light beige indicating high-altitude rangeland, while the flatter western coast and low-lying river valleys are heavily marked by orange for crops. Red built-up urban areas are primarily clustered in the central-western lowlands and scattered coastal zones, with blue marking lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

This 3D relief map of Albania shows land cover types. Forest is the primary type (~36%), notably the Albanian Alps in the north and the southeastern Morava Mountains. The large red dot encompasses Greater Tirana. Medieval cities like Gjirokaster (south) and Berat (central) remain remarkably true to their Ottoman-era forms. Along the southwestern coast, the "Albanian Riviera" shows shifting boundaries between croplands and urbanization.

By Stella Shanker, B.S. Geographical Sciences '26

EVENTS

Aug. 13: MS GEOINT Fall 2026 New Student Orientation, 5 to 6:30 p.m. LeFrak Room 1124

Aug. 20: MS GIS Fall 2026 New Student Orientation, 5 to 7 p.m. LeFrak Room 1158

Aug. 25: All-Department Luncheon, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. River Road Room 325 See upcoming events on the Department Calendar.

Aug. 31: First day of fall classes

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