2009 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV Online Program

Panel Session: 1127 Philosophy for GIScience is scheduled on Sunday, 3/22/09, from 1:00 PM - 2:40 PM in Capri 115, Riviera Hotel, 1st Floor Sponsorship(s): Geographic Information Science and Systems Specialty Group Organizer(s): Nicholas Tate - University of Leicester Panelist(s): Renee Sieber - McGill University David M. Mark - University at Buffalo Matthew W. Wilson - University of Washington Agnieszka Leszczynski - University of Washington Barbara Poore - United States Geological Survey Francis Harvey - University of Minnesota - Minneapolis Helen Couclelis - University of California Introducer(s): Nicholas Tate - University of Leicester Session Description: Since Pickles (1997) call for a 'theoretical turn' in GIS there have been various attempts to explore post-positivist frameworks for GIScience which have largely, although not exclusively, been concerned with exploring the role of GIS in non-quantitative/non-scientific practice.  This panel session invites discussion to explore the philosophical context of GIS and GIScience, with particular focus on the potential of various forms of scientific realism and anti-realism.   Potential questions for discussion: •       Can GIScience benefit from a philosophical perspective? •       What philosophical perspectives are appropriate for GIScience? •       How might GIScience be (re)constituted as post-positive science? •       What kind of science is GIScience? •       What kind of science could GIScience be?

(54) 2009 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV