DevInfo in Action - USA: Employing DevInfo as a Research and Mapping Tool at New York University

USA: Employing DevInfo as a Research and Mapping Tool at New York University (17 December 2010)

John Toner had never heard of DevInfo before when he went to Guatemala this past summer to conduct an independent research project on microfinance, as part of his graduate level coursework at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. But when he returned to his classroom studies in the fall of 2010, he learned about DevInfo and how it could help him build upon the results of his summer research project by allowing him to easily explore cross-sectoral relationships.

“DevInfo is a unique platform that could help fuse non-profit, government, and private interests through data collection, analysis and dissemination,” Mr. Toner explained excitedly. "The uses inside and outside the classroom are fantastic! I've already used DevInfo graphs and maps in academic presentations this semester."

Mr. Toner joins the ranks of a growing number of graduate students at universities in the New York City area who are learning about DevInfo for the first time - and liking very much what they see. Through on-campus software demonstrations, graduate students in three international affairs programs – New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, Columbia University’s School for International and Professional Affairs, and Fordham University’s Program for International Political Economy and Development – were recently introduced to DevInfo and given basic training on how to search for data and generate customized tables, graphs and maps.

Response to the software demonstrations was overwhelmingly positive from the students, who represented a cross-section of disciplines including international development, human rights, economics, energy and environment. The majority were impressed by the ease with which DevInfo allows a user to transform data into effective visual presentations. Most were eager to explore further how DevInfo could be integrated into their research assignments and classroom presentations.

The DevInfo workshops have come at a timely juncture, given the increased emphasis being given to map-based data presentation and analysis by these international affairs programs.

John Toner, student at New York University,
using DevInfo

New York City graduate students learning how to use DevInfo for research and mapping

For example, Columbia University recently began offering a new class titled, “GIS for International Affairs” in which students are required to create maps based on raw data and then draft policy memos. In fact, faculty members at all three universities have indicated that they plan to integrate DevInfo into their academic curricula in the coming year, in recognition of its inherent relevance and usefulness.

For Mr. Toner and hundreds of his fellow graduate students in the New York City area, DevInfo is poised to make their research, mapping and data presentation assignments much easier in the coming year.

Data making a difference.

For more information, please contact the DevInfo Support Group at support@devinfo.info.