# Awards ## expand\_more **The CGA administers the following awards for Harvard students:** ![fisherprize.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/gis/files/fisherprize.png?itok=U08ykjT7) **Howard T. Fisher Prize in GIS:** The Fisher Prize was established in 1999 to promote and reward student work in this broad and potentially interdisciplinary area, from both undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University. Howard Taylor Fisher (1903-1979), graduate of Harvard College and architect from Chicago, founded the Laboratory for Computer Graphics (later, Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis) at the GSD in 1965, where he further developed the synagraphic mapping system (SYMAP). The prize is jointly administered by the Center for Geographic Analysis (CGA) and the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), funded by a gift from Jack Dangermond (MLA 1969), President of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Inc., the world leading company in GIS (geographic information system) modeling and mapping software and technology. The Technical Advisory Committee for CGA, oversees the award process each year. [Register for the award](/event/fisher-prize-award-competition). **2026 Fisher Prize Winner, Undergraduate category: Matthew Scott Tan** for the entry “Salt, fat, acid, distance: Seeing how culinary resemblance exceeds what geographic distance predicts”. Judges comments included “This was a cohesive, highly creative project that used a range of relevant data and analyses. This project demonstrated how spatial analysis can be used to find patterns that otherwise would not be apparent.” [View the award winning story map](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/26438114683f4ae88dbf47551f5b0063) ![a food map](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2026-05/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20102815.png) **2026 Fisher Prize Co-Winner, Graduate Category: Kyungmin Kim** for the entry “Terrain And Signal: Mapping The Landscape Of Communication Infrastructure in Seoul, Korea”. Judges comments included “Well laid out bi-variate mapping at multiple scales, effectively converting raster data to district levels. Outstanding job using cartography within a poster format to clearly communicate the analysis using minimal text.” [View the award winning poster](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O-JXmDGiiGb6W16kWPkb8d4A137_221_/view?usp=sharing). ![three maps of seoul](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2026-05/Screenshot%202026-05-28%2010322asdfasdf2.png) **2026 Fisher Prize Co-Winner, Graduate Category: Caroline** **Tangoren** for the entry “Ecological Risk Factors for Oropouche Fever: A Bayesian Spatiotemporal Analysis of the 2024-2025 Oropouche Outbreak in Ceará, Brazil.” Judges comments included “A combination of physical and human data appropriately analyzed and presented with the perfect amount of narrative, maps, and charts. This project demonstrates how remote sensing techniques combined with field collected data can be a powerful way to shed light on how a disease such as Oropouche fever affects different populations in Ceará state, Brazil.” [View the award winning story map](https://arcg.is/1mnv4m1). [ ![map of ceara state, brazil](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2026-05/ct.png) ](https://arcg.is/1mnv4m1) ![eip.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/gis/files/eip.png?itok=weNWb2I4) **The Esri Innovation Program (EIP) Student of the Year Award:** The [EIP Student of the Year](https://www.esri.com/en-us/c/industry/education/20/esri-innovation-program) is an annual award open to all Harvard students, sponsored by Esri and administered by the CGA. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding achievements in GIS and geospatial analysis, and to advance geospatial science in research and education. One winner each year will be recognized by a certificate, a $500 cash prize, and a free book from Esri press. The overall winner receives an expenses paid trip to the Esri International Users Conference. [Read more](https://www.esri.com/en-us/c/industry/education/20/esri-innovation-program) about the award, and [Register for this year's award](/event/edc-student-year-award). 2025 EIP Award Winner: Summer J. Smentek for the entry “[Keeping the ‘Live’ in Livestock and Livelihoods: Landscape Drivers of Large Carnivore Attacks on Livestock in Laikipia, Kenya](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e639be65e23d4187b091c8d708b46315)”. Judges comments included “A super impressive job of geospatial analysis that covers much of the spectrum of GIS, presented in an engaging format and design. Maps are very well done, and the integration of the geospatial analysis with robust statistical analysis really makes this work stand out as an important contribution to help understand human carnivore conflict.” Congrats to Summer! ![eip](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2025-06/eip.png) **Past Fisher Prize and EIP Award Winners** 2025 Fisher Prize Winner, Undergraduate category: Quinn Ewanchyna, at Harvard College, for the entry “[Fighting for Power: Natural Resources and Rebel Legitimac](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/28f3a2ad388c4cf48e5833d4aeef595a)y”. Judges comments include: “A comprehensive project clearly and concisely explained from hypothesis to conclusion, worthy of a scientific publication. The author used a broad range of maps that clearly communicate the interplay between natural resources and insurgency. This work demonstrates technical depth of analysis, using appropriate spatial analyses, and incorporates open science with links to code and models used.” Congratulations Quinn! [View the award winning story map](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/28f3a2ad388c4cf48e5833d4aeef595a). ![fisher2025a](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2025-06/fisher2025a.png) 2025 Fisher Prize Winner, Graduate category: Aanchal Chopra, a Masters student in Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, for the entry “[Charting Cool Walking Routes in Extreme Heat](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e2df8ab007424c6fa1414e2001350f15)”. Judges comments on this work include “An in depth examination of urban walkability presented from the perspective of a pedestrian. A novel approach to analyze every street in Boston, communicated with a strong mix of static and dynamic maps.” Congratulations Aanchal! [View the award winning story map.](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e2df8ab007424c6fa1414e2001350f15) ![fisher2025b](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2025-06/fisher2025b.png) 2024 Fisher Prize Winner, Undergraduate Category: **Shane Rice** (Harvard College), for "Finding Anfal: A Geospatial Analysis of Settlement Destruction in the Erbil Plain Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq"**.** Judges comments: “An impressive compilation of historic maps, images, and archival documents efficiently processed with modern GIS tools to illustrate in vivid detail the legacy the Anfal campaign left on the Erbil plain.” View the award winning [story map.](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2e1fc07af21b4ad2a184f6d908e0d8ed) ![alt](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2025-04/download.png) 2024 Fisher Prize co-Winner, Graduate Category: **Dev Patel** (Harvard Graduate School of Design), for "Detecting Floods: Combining Machine Learning & Satellite Data to Measure Earth's Most Common Natural Disaster" Judges comments: “Traditional remotely sensed and empirically measured flood data was combined with qualitative stakeholder surveys and media reports in a machine learning model that culminates in a truly innovative way to investigate this important topic.” View the award winning [story map.](https://dev-patel.com/floods/floodmethodology.html) ![download](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/2025-04/download%20%281%29.png) 2024 Fisher Prize Honorable Mention, Graduate Category: **Jordan Borgman** (Harvard Divinity School), for "Mapping Shangri-La". View the [story map](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ee599ca1fecd4ec8b6817bb67fb4b231). 2024 EIP Award Winner: **Femi Olamijulo, Mengyao Li, Monserrat Ocaña, Nicole Cacozza**, and **Zoe Iacovino** for their entry “Everett Express: Transitioning a 95-acre industrial city parcel to mixed-use development in Everett, Massachusetts.” Judges comments: “A project performed with a professional level of quality from start to finish. The transportation, build-out, and 3D visual analyses are relevant, conducted with appropriate Esri technologies, and presented with engaging interactive maps. Where this project really shines is it’s practical use to policy makers at the State of Massachusetts and the City of Everett.” View the award winning [story map](https://arcg.is/0rzXiS0). ![2024-image.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/2024-image.png?itok=Ce4hhZcO) 2023 Fisher Prize Winner, Undergraduate Category: **Beatrice Youd** (Harvard College), for "Impacts of Conservation in the Republic of Congo"**.** Judges comments: “A comprehensive spatial analysis evaluating the impact of multiple factors on land and wildlife conservation. A skillful incorporation of GIS proximity, overlay, and site selection analyses.” View the award winning [story map](/storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/acc65f0ce2de4605a5e1bcf709eded18). ![an image from the story map showing land types](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/congo.png?itok=PnuSk6gs) 2023 Fisher Prize Winner, Graduate Category: **Bora Ju** (Harvard Graduate School of Design), for "Spatial Changes of Pre- and Post war City: Mariupol". Judges comments: “A timely and important topic, analyzed with the latest available satellite imagery of Ukraine. Excellent utilization of multiple spatial technologies, presented in an easy to understand format with effective mix of images, maps, narrative, and appropriate citations.” View the award winning [story map](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c67dce2b099a42e591b5e8bc1ff08bd1). ![satellite images of Mariupol](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/mariupol.png?itok=9qOB5BfH) 2023 EIP Award Winner: **Yoji Toriumi** from the Graduate School of Design for his entry "Climate Change and Flood Risk in Pakistan: Identification of Higher Disaster Risk Areas". Judges comments: “This project featured relevant data with well documented sources and robust, logical geographic analysis presented in a well organized, effective, visually pleasing manner. The study of climate change and how it effects human populations is more important now than ever, and this project serves as a significant contribution to this body of study.” View the award winning [story map.](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/32e56db0111246a487139eb2515b7047) ![2023-03-30_13-40-13.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/2023-03-30_13-40-13.png?itok=R_-ZXPiQ) 2022 Fisher Prize Award Winner: Group entry from Graduate School of Design students **Layal Merhi, Olivia Poston, Thanaporn (Nuknik) Lam,** and **Inkoo Kang** for their entry "Cities \[re\]defined" Judges comments: “An intriguing research question explored from multiple perspectives, providing a unique insight into known and unknown aspects of cities.” “Good variety of GIS data used with solid overlay analysis. Results presented with effective cartographic techniques.” View the award winning [story map](https://arcg.is/SXvuv). ![fisher_prize_2022.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/fisher_prize_2022.png?itok=7E5wBvEC) 2021 Fisher Prize Award Winner (undergraduate student category): **Jordan Kruguer**, for the entry: *Urban-SAR: Creation of a Geospatially Explicit Framework for Evaluating the Impact of Urban Form on the Growth and Performance of Cities*. Judges comments: “A novel methodology for creating typologies of urban form and growth presented in a comprehensive, scientifically disciplined manner.” “A robust analysis that utilized multiple open technologies and data.” View the award winning [story map](https://arcg.is/1Cry9L). ![urban-sar](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/urban_sar.png?itok=ygXb8D3G) 2021 Fisher Prize Award Winner (graduate student category): **Thandi Nyambose**, for the entry: *HARLEM, NYC: African American Design Nexus*. Judges comments: "Excellent example of combining solid fundamental GIS with historic maps, photos, audio, and video into a compelling, visually stimulating story." "An important topic to explore, presented in an immersive fashion." View the award winning [story map](https://arcg.is/1S0rf8). ![harlem](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/gis/files/harlem.png?itok=0qKLzN5B) 2020 Fisher Prize Award Winner: **Emilio Sempris**, for the entry: *World On Fire: Top 100 Jurisdictions with Wildfire*. Judges comments include “A stunning 3D visualization making a statement in easy to understand manner.” “Great utilization of a global publicly available dataset, presented and rendered in a unique way.” [View the poster](https://cga-download.hmdc.harvard.edu/publish_web/Fisher_Prize/2020_winners/Emilio_Sempris_Fisher_Prize_CGA_Harvard_2020.pdf). ![world_on_fire_thumbnail.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/world_on_fire_thumbnail.png?itok=lVJy_JbO) 2019 Fisher Prize Award Winner: **Longfeng Wu and Seung Kyum Kim**, for their entry: *Unequal Territory of Accessing Urban Green Spaces: A comparative Study of 341 Prefecture-level Chinese Cities*. Judges comments include “Access to greenspace in a rapidly urbanizing environment is a timely and important topic. This project featured relevant data with well documented sources and robust, logical geographic analysis presented in a well organized, effective, visually pleasing manner." [View the poster](https://cga-download.hmdc.harvard.edu/publish_web/Fisher_Prize/2019_winners/Longfeng_Wu_UnequalTerritoryofAccessingUrbanGreenSpaces.pdf). 2021 EIP Award Winner: **Sun Kim**, Master of Science student at the at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for the submission: *Spatiotemporal pattern of COVID-19 and government response in South Korea.* [*View the story map.*](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d084cc3e2c854125bd2149b3a559caa5) Judges comments: "An undeniably strong use of GIS both for analysis and visualization.” “A timely analysis on an important topic. Excellent utilization of ArcGIS for spatial statistics and map creation." ![sun_kim_map.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum9996/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/gis/files/sun_kim_map.png?itok=ZP0CnGZV) 2019 EDC Center Student of the Year Award Winner: **Prasanna Shrivastava**, Masters in Sustainability student at the Harvard Extension School, for his submission: *Areas Suitable for Solar Water Pump Installations in India*. [View the poster](https://cga-download.hmdc.harvard.edu/publish_web/EDC_Awards/2019/PrasannaShrivastavaIndiaSolarwaterpump_v1.pdf). Judges comments: "A worthwhile, logically laid out analysis using relevant datasets." "Well structured from the problem framing, data organization, analysis, and results to the mapping and poster layout." [Award winners 2012-2018](https://cga-download.hmdc.harvard.edu/publish_web/Fisher_Prize/Award_Winners_2012-2018%20.pdf) See also:- [ Events ](/event)