HBCU Community Mapping

The Institutes of Health Disparities, Equity, and the Exposome at Meharry Medical College coordinated Geographic Information System (GIS) workshops in collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across Tennessee. Addressing the historical underrepresentation of HBCU students in STEM fields, these workshops aimed to mitigate this disparity by introducing technical skill sets to enhance their foundational aptitude. Through GIS programming, participants gained the capacity to analyze data of their choosing and provide geographic references for said data. Regardless of computer science backgrounds, students were equipped with training in spatial mapping software, including Google My Maps and QGIS. Subsequently, they could utilize these newfound skills in pursuit of their future academic careers and specific interests.