Mapping Justice
Empowering Youth Through Geospatial Innovation
Virtual summer course for high school students that merges STEM education with climate justice.
About Mapping Justice
Mapping Justice is a FREE virtual summer program for high school students in Hawaii and the Gulf Coast states.
In this 6-8 week project-based course, students dive into climate and social justice issues pertaining to their communities, while learning fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Students who complete the course earn college credit from accredited institutions. See our FAQ section below for more information.
Why Mapping Justice?
Learn about Environmental Justice and how you can make a difference in your community.
Gain marketable geospatial data science skills, including how to analyze data and create an interactive digital map.
Explore topics like climate change, pollution, water quality, coastal erosion, community resilience, and more.
Create and present a final group project on an issue you care about.
Remote and engaging classes make it easy to tune in from wherever you are, with a flexible schedule.
Earn college credit for free from accredited institutions.
Make friends with cool people from your region!
In Their Own Words: How Mapping Justice Made an Impact
Mapping Justice FAQs
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Current high school students.
Must reside in Hawai‘i or a Gulf Coast state (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas).
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The course runs virtually for 6-8 weeks during the summer. Both programs begin in early June.
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Mapping Justice is a mostly remote program. At the end of the program, Mapping Justice culminates in a showcase where students present their final projects. For 2025, showcases will occur virtually.
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Students attend live classes 2-3 times a week, with self-paced assignments and group project work.
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The course is worth 3 units of transferrable credit and will have a GIS prefix. The class counts for transferable GE units offered through University of Massachusetts Global. Course description is below:
SSCU 100 Mapping Justice, Designing Geospatial Tools for Social Change: Mapping Justice teaches students how to create geospatial tools for positive community change, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to promote equity within their community. In the course, students focus on civic engagement and geospatial data analytics, as well as diverse GIS skills to promote community engagement. This course is only offered through the School of Extended Education. 3 credits.
Featured Projects
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![The 2023 Maui wildfires, with a focus on the devastation in Lahaina, reveal the profound impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The project examines the intersection of human resilience, environmental challenges, and the urgent need for]()
The Economics of Environmental Health
The 2023 Maui wildfires, with a focus on the devastation in Lahaina, reveal the profound impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The project examines the intersection of human resilience, environmental challenges, and the urgent need for solutions.
Sei S., Sage K., Audrey M. | Mapping Justice Hawai’i 2024
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Hurricanes and Their Effects on the Florida Population
Mapping the connection between community wellbeing and tropical cyclones.
Anna Z., Dominic S., Angel W. | Mapping Justice Florida 2024
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Wastewater's Contribution to the Coral Bleaching Crisis
Coral bleaching, a critical yet often overlooked environmental issue, threatens ecosystems and coastal communities, especially in regions like Florida, as warming oceans and poor water conditions take their toll. Highlighting wastewater's role in this crisis, raising awareness, and fostering action are essential to mitigating damage and protecting both natural and human systems.
Amber I. | Mapping Justice Florida 2023
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Measuring the Impact of Agricultural Fumigants in Hawaii
How Fumigants Disrupt and Contaminate Hawaii’s Watersheds, Marine Life, and Local Demographics
Ailani C. and Camryn I. | Mapping Justice Hawai’i 2024
