"The Dark Side of GeoAI" - Call for Conference Workshop

For the GeoAI 2026 conference in Ghent, we are looking for participants in a workshop on "The Dark Side of GeoAI: Mapping the Risks and Dangers of Applying AI in the Geo Domain as well as Potential Countermeasures". The goal of the workshop is to map out the risks and dangers of AI in the geo-domain, and to identify and map potential countermeasures for these risks. We plan to focus specifically on generative AI and machine learning as these AI technologies are already used in the geosciences and rapidly developing. Risks include, for example, using generated geodata for training, inferences or decisions, biases and hallucinations as well as the potential harms of geomedia that contain mis- and disinformation. The workshop is scheduled for June 3rd, 2:00 - 6:30 pm. Please send your submissions to geoinformatik@uni-muenster.de, with the subject line "Statement of interest: DarkSide Workshop". The deadline is March 13th. 

© IFGI

120 students successfully participated in the Mapathon 2026

On February 12th, around 120 students from seven schools visited the Institute for Geoinformatics for the 2nd Mapathon. They received an introduction to OpenStreetMap and mapped 10,000 buildings in a region of Sumatra that was devastated by a severe cyclone last November.

Job offer: Doctoral Research Associate (100%) at the SPARC lab

The SPARC lab is offering a full-time position as doctoral research associate at the externally funded project "SPACE-EYE: Spatial and Architectural Evidence from Movement-aware Eye-tracking". Applicants should have an academic degree (Master of Science) in geoinformatics, psychology, architecture, computer science, HCI or a related discipline. Participants close to finishing their degree are also invited to apply. The application deadline is February 28, 2026. 

Job offer: Doctoral Research Associate (100%) at the CVMLS lab

The CVMLS lab is offering a full-time position as doctoral research associate for three years in the DGF-funded Collaborative Research Centre 1748 ‘Principles of Reproduction’. Applicants should have Master’s degree in Computer Science, Geoinformatics, Physics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field. The application deadline is February 20, 2026.

New Research Project: SPACE-EYE

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a new research project to analyze the link between walking trajectories and eye-movement trajectories. The project, entitled "SPACE-EYE: Spatial and Architectural Evidence from Movement-Aware Eye-Tracking," is led by Prof. Dr. Jakub Krukar. The research will combine mobile eye-tracking and motion data to build a computational framework that models gaze and locomotion together in realistic architectural environments. This has implications for areas interested in modelling how people move through and view space, e.g. in signage planning, or emergency evacuation scenarios.

© Thomas Bartoschek

Mobility Award NRW 2025 for "Essen on Wheels"

The "Essen on Wheels" project has achieved 3rd place in the Mobility Award NRW. The award was presented on December 8th by Transport Minister Oliver Krischer as part of Mobility Day NRW. This project, a joint effort of the IFGI and the Institute for Didactics of Geography, involved collecting data on cycling traffic using the senseBox:bike, with the support of dedicated cycling initiatives such as the ADFC Essen e.V. and students from six Essen schools. The project aimed to promote data literacy, climate protection, and education. Running from December 2022 to November 2025, the project was funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation. The €5,000 prize money will now be used to further develop the project. The goal is to establish and expand the project approach to other schools and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany. We thank everyone who has continuously supported the project and cast their vote!