Calling all students! The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is currently accepting abstracts for a student showcase at our annual Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 4 and 5 in Palm Desert. SCAG is looking for outstanding student work in two categories: sustainability planning posters and Esri StoryMaps using SCAG data. This showcase will allow students to network and share their research with more than 1,000 elected officials, planning practitioners and various public, private and non-profit leaders from across Southern California. Students whose submissions are selected will be awarded free conference registrations and hotel stay at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert. Entrants in the SCAG/Esri StoryMaps Challenge will also be competing for $2,000 in total prize money. The deadline is fast approaching – submit soon!

ABSTRACTS DUE: APRIL 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.
FINAL PROJECTS DUE: APRIL 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

TRACK 1: SCAG/ESRI STORY MAPS STUDENT CHALLENGE

SCAG is proud to invite student participants to conceptualize, create and submit story maps using the Esri ArcGIS Online platform and the SCAG GIS Open Data Portal. Esri Story Maps are web applications that let authors combine maps with narrative text, images and multimedia, including video. This is a meaningful way tell a story about work that is important to the region, to showcase plans and projects, to engage supporters and stakeholders, to illustrate the possibilities of big data and to highlight the usefulness of open data at the regional level.

SCAG is opening up a considerable portion of its data for students to create a story using Esri's Story Map platform. There will be a free training workshop at SCAG’s offices in downtown Los Angeles on April 7, 2017 from 1pm to 3pm. For more information and to register, please click here.

A selection of the strongest story maps will be displayed and featured at the 2017 SCAG General Assembly in Palm Desert, California on May 4-5. Two submissions will also be designated as the “best in show” by a panel of judges; the creator(s) will each be awarded a cash prize of $1,000. Winning submissions will also be featured on SCAG’s website.

Click here for guidelines.
To submit an abstract or ask any questions, email Mike Jones at jonesm@scag.ca.gov.

TRACK 2: CALL FOR POSTERS: PLANNING PROJECTS IN SUSTAINABILITY

SCAG is requesting abstracts for student-led projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to sustainability-related planning issues on a local or regional scale. Eligible submittals include any applied projects or research papers and will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Sustainability: Promotes principles relevant to one or more of SCAG’s Sustainability Principles (Integrated Planning, Green Region Initiative and Active Transportation)
• Innovation: Introduces a new concept or challenges or improves upon current planning processes
• Transferability: Strategies/concepts that can be applied to different locations or programs
• Feasibility: Project has potential to be realistically implemented
• Presentation: Excellence in writing, visual content and overall organization

Submissions will be accepted from students currently enrolled at any accredited university or college within the SCAG region (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino,and Ventura counties). All work must be completed by students, not faculty or university staff. Eligible projects must have been completed after January 1, 2014.

Click here for guidelines.
To submit an abstract or ask any questions, email India Brookover at brookover@scag.ca.gov.