Since 1998, the State of Mississippi has nurtured the growth of a cluster of high-tech companies in the geospatial technology industry. The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) is the program that coordinates the activities of this cluster. EIGS works with private companies as well as university research programs, state agencies, and other related organizations to support geospatial business development and research with the primary mission of growing the research-based, world-class geospatial technology industry in Mississippi.

On January 15, 2009, EIGS and the Geospatial Education Council of the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced the official launch of MARS, the second generation, was held on the Ridgeland campus of Holmes Community College. The MARS program (Mississippi Area Remapping Strategy) is a geospatial high school adoption program with 8 high schools across the state of Mississippi. Eighty-five students, teachers, mentors, and representatives from state departments and agencies were in attendance.

During the spring of 2009, the selected high schools will work with designated university/community college partners to design and complete a community-based geospatial information science and technology (GIS&T) project. The participating MARS high schools receive support from their mentor institution, computer hardware and software, technical support and training, GPS units, and resource books to support the projects.

MARS is funded by EIGS in cooperation with mentors from the IHL Geospatial Education Council. Northwest Mississippi Community College serves as the statewide coordinator for the MARS program.

"The number of new jobs available from Mississippi's geospatial businesses is far outpacing the number of qualified candidates to fill available vacancies," stated Dr. Greg Easson, EIGS Executive Director. "The MARS program was established to help address this ongoing demand for an educated, well-trained workforce and to create a pipeline of the next generation of employees for Mississippi's geospatial industry."

MARS 2009 includes high schools from Batesville, Brandon, Byhalia, Decatur, Greenville, Kiln, Leakesville, and Woodville. Volunteering their time and expertise to guide the high school teams are members of the IHL Geospatial Education Council including Alcorn State University, East Central Community College, Jackson State University, Jones County Community College, MARIS, MS Delta Community College, Northwest Mississippi Community College, The University of Mississippi, the UM Medical Center, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

"Through the involvement of a wide-range of community partners, we fully expect this year's MARS projects to not only motivate and excite the students, but to have a positive impact on community needs," stated Joyce Brasell of Northwest Mississippi Community College, the statewide coordinator for the pilot project.

If you would like to learn more about MARS, please contact Lisa Stone (lstone@olemiss.edu).

Also see:

Career Voyages: Geospatial Industry

Created: March 27, 2004

Updated: January 07, 2010