National Geographic Map Awards

National Geographic Maps sponsors award programs through three cartographic organizations (see below), with funding provided by National Geographic Mission Programs

- Association of American Geographers/Cartography SG award
- British Cartographic Society award
- Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) award

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHERS

National Geographic Award in Mapping
Undergraduate students and master's-degree candidates are invited to apply for the National Geographic Award in Mapping. This award recognizes student achievement in the art, science, and technology of mapping and seeks to encourage student research.

The first place award consists of a cash prize of $900 (U.S.) and the second place award is $300 (U.S.). Winners will also receive National Geographic atlases or other map products.

Submissions may take a variety of forms, but must focus specifically on maps and mapping. The following types of submissions are welcome: map products in digital and paper format; web-based maps or cartographic services; dynamic, animated, and/or interactive geovisualization environments; or other cartographic projects.

This award is administered through the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Cartography Specialty Group (CSG). Judging will be by the National Geographic Award in Mapping committee of the AAG/CSG and will be based on the technical, aesthetic, and overall quality of the submission. The award winner, or winners, will be announced at the CSG meeting at the Annual Meeting of the AAG in Washington, DC, April 14-18, 2010. Applying students do not need to be members of the AAG.

2009-10 AWARD WINNERS:

First Prize: Consisting of $900 and the National Geographic Visual Atlas , to Joe Fraser, Centre of Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia Community College, for his map highlighting cultural heritage and architecture in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. View a sample of his work by clicking here .

Second Prize: Consisting of $300 and the National Geographic Visual Atlas , to Kevin McGrath, University of Wisconsin-Madison, for his innovative map of stars and non-stellar objects. View a sample of his work by clicking here .

Third Prize: Consisting of The Complete National Geographic DVD set , to Matt Forrest, University of Wisconsin-Madison, for his map focused on election mapping in the United States. View a sample of his work by clicking here .

Honorable Mention: Consisting of The Complete National Geographic DVD set , to Lucy Hughes, Centre of Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia Community College, for her map highlighting the sport of orienteering. View a sample of her work by clicking here .

Special thanks to Dr. Sarah Battersby, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina & Dr. Jeremy Mennis, Geography & Urban Studies, Temple University, for organizing and judging this year's winners.

HOW TO APPLY:

We encourage submissions in standard digital formats (e.g. .pdf, .html, submissions accessible through conventional web browsers, etc.). Please include the following items with your submission:

A cover page that includes your name, institutional affiliation, degree program (e.g. M.A.), address, phone number, email, and cartography/GIS instructor's name.

A one page statement that provides some context of the submission, i.e. its purpose, how it may be used, how it was created, its limitations, etc.

A one page statement of how this award would help you with your educational plans.

Submissions must be received by February 15, 2010.

Please apply by sending all digital materials to Sarah Battersby. For more information contact Sarah Battersby; also, Sean O'Connor or Kaitlin Yarnall of National Geographic Maps.

Submissions in paper format are also welcome. Paper submissions may be mailed to:

Sarah Battersby
University of South Carolina
Callcott Building
709 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29208

Previous Winners:

2008 :: Daniel Huffman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

2007 :: Zachary Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Madison

2007 :: Samantha Keehan, University of Wisconsin-Madison

2006 :: Cassandra Hansen, Humboldt State University, California

2005 :: Shannon Brassard and Jeff Wielki, Centre for Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia

2004 :: John Nelson, Central Michigan University

2003 :: Rob James, University of Hawaii at Manoa

2002 :: Anthony Robinson, East Carolina University

BRITISH CARTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

National Geographic New Mapmapker Award

The New Mapmaker Award recognizes the work of college students or new professionals starting a mapping career with a £500 cash prize. Students and professionals worldwide can apply for this award, and applicants do not need to be members of the British Cartographic Society. The deadline is April 25, 2010.

More information and application forms are at the British Cartographic Society website.

The 2009 winner is Christoph Hoesli, a mapmaker at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Switzerland, for his map on southern Sudan. He receives £500, a National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World and the Threatened Africa map from ngmapcollection.com. View a sample of his work by clicking here.

CARTOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SOCIETY (CaGIS)

Student Map Design Competition

National Geographic provides a cash prize and atlases for this map competition that evaluates map design and how a map meets its design objectives. College students can submit maps that are on paper, disc, or online. The deadline is January 29, 2010.

2009-10 AWARD WINNERS:

The Arthur Robinson prize for best printed map by a student, consisting of $600 and the National Geographic Visual Atlas, went to Mike Boruta, Ohio University for his map the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado.

Note: Previews of the winning maps can be viewed on the CaGIS website in the Awards section.

Honorable mentions in the best printed map category went to:

Barbara C. Pietersma, Center for Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia Community College. for her map on Bras d’Or Lake, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Mathieu Noble, Centre of Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia Community College, for his topographic map of Québec City.

Zachary Schmitt, Department of Geography, Northern Illinois University, for his map on exposure to sulfur dioxide in the Chicagoland area.

Kevin McGrath, University of Wisonsin-Madison, for his innovative map of stars and non-stellar objects.

There were no submissions for the David Woodward award for best electronic map by a student.

More information, application forms, and past winners are at the CaGIS website.