About GDSG

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Geospatial Data Science Group (GDSG) – Vision, Mission, and Strategic Impact

The Geospatial Data Science Group (GDSG) at the University of Glasgow plays a vital role in advancing research excellence through its interdisciplinary work at the intersection of data, space, and society. 

Vision:
To be a creative and innovative leader in geospatial data research and application, fostering impactful collaborations and public engagement.

Mission:
To embed research impact into the core of all our work by:

  • Strengthening internal capacity and cohesion,
  • Promoting interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations,
  • Supporting effective communication and knowledge exchange,
  • Engaging diverse publics and stakeholders in research processes,
  • Embedding social, environmental, and policy relevance in all projects.

Strategic Impact
Aligned with the University’s objectives and the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF), GDSG’s strategy addresses all three REF pillars:

  1. Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding 
    We produce high-quality, original, and rigorous research that responds to urgent societal and environmental challenges. Our open-source tools, spatial modelling, and interdisciplinary publications contribute meaningfully to geography, data science, and public policy, while advancing transparency and reproducibility in geospatial research. The Impact Strategy supports this by fostering a research environment that encourages innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Embedding public engagement activities and collaborative outputs as part of research workflows ensures that outputs have both academic and societal significance, meeting REF criteria at the highest level.

  2. Engagement and Impact 
    Our work delivers real world benefits through strategic partnerships, public engagement, and knowledge exchange. We translate academic outputs into societal value via schools outreach, community events and collaborations with institutes such as the Alan Turing Institute. The group’s work can align with REF ambitions by addressing pressing societal issues such as urban resilience, environmental monitoring, public health, and digital inclusion.

  3. People, Culture and Environment 
    We foster an inclusive, collaborative and sustainable research culture, supporting leadership development, team cohesion and capacity building. This underpins a dynamic environment that attracts talent and ensures long term research excellence.