Geographic Information Science: Building a Doctoral Programme Integrating Interdisciplinary Concepts and Methods

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the nature of geographic phenomena and of geographic information. It provides theoretical foundations for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the rational for research and development of GIS in mainstream ICT. Building on Masters level education we argue that more coordinated and structured education and training is required at the doctoral level. We developed a formalized doctoral education and research training programme in GIScience at the University of Salzburg, by integrating students in three focused, interconnected, interdisciplinary research clusters. We illustrate how this programme seeks to acknowledge spatial principles, to explore scientific and educational uses of geographic information in order to elucidate the complex relationships that individuals and society have with GIS. It provides a framework for „education through research’ programme.