What does a Christmas Eve broadcast from 1968 have to do with geography, geospatial data, and AI? Recounting a transformative memory from his student days, Jack Dangermond, WGIC Patron Board Chair and President, Esri, reveals how the iconic “Earthrise” moment laid the groundwork for the modern systems-of-systems now enabling global collaboration and holistic problem-solving.

Among the map-makers of each generation are the risk-takers…those who see the opportunities, seize the moment…and expand humanity’s vision of the future – Are these words by Ralph Waldo Emerson about us, the geospatial people?