About Us

Our Vision

To be the nation’s leader in geospatial science research and accelerate the St. Louis region’s development as a global geospatial center of excellence.

Our Mission

To advance geospatial science through multi-institutional, interdisciplinary collaborations in order to create innovative, real-world solutions to societal grand challenges.

Our Path

The Taylor Geospatial Institute operates as an interdisciplinary community of preeminent scientists that draws on the distinctive strengths and state-of-the-art computing infrastructure of eight research institutions to launch innovative, cutting-edge research programs that make a positive impact. We aim to:

• Build a world-class, interdisciplinary research collaborative to address scientific and societal grand challenges, such as food security, supply chain resilience, health equity, and national security using location science
• Establish a comprehensive spatial science research infrastructure as a catalyst for collaboration and partnership with industry, government agencies, and research entities
• Translate research advancements into impactful commercial applications in partnership with the forthcoming National Center for Location Science
• Contribute to the overall effort to develop, maintain, and retain outstanding talent in partnership with the St. Louis GeoFutures Coalition

Taylor Family Legacy Investment

The Taylor Geospatial Institute was established by a legacy investment from Andrew C. Taylor with supporting investments from each of the eight member institutions. This catalytic funding by the Taylors builds on St. Louis’ significant geospatial assets and accelerates the region’s position as the global center of geospatial innovation, impact, and excellence.

Governance

Collaboration and innovation frame our governance and leadership team. They’re central to everything we do.

As a consortium of research institutions led by Saint Louis University, the Taylor Geospatial Institute draws on the expertise and insights of a broad range of scientists at the forefront of geospatial research. All working together with experienced leaders in higher education and experts from both industry and government.

Our Governing Council is composed of senior administrators from partner institutions who provide advice to and serve in an oversight capacity for the Institute Director. Members of the the Governing Council are appointed by the President of Saint Louis University.

Our Research Council is composed of scientific leaders from partner institutions who provide oversight for our strategic research agenda, developing competitive funding mechanisms, and a series of topical working groups to ensure we remain at the forefront of research in critical areas.

Our External Advisory Board is composed of preeminent geospatial scientists and leaders across the United States who advise the Institute on scientific strategies and operational plans.

Our Researchers

Our people, from students to the most distinguished researchers, are critical ingredients to the success of this research consortium. The Institute brings them together through a range of opportunities, research and social events, and intentional matches.

The institute has several levels for faculty membership

• Associate: Faculty members in the consortium that are affiliated with the Institute. Check out our list of Associates. Sign up to be a member through the Associates Interest Form and Survey.
• Member:  Actively engaged faculty members of the research consortium who participate in events, working group and/or are recipients of TGI funding. Associates are elevated to members through their engagement.
• TGI Fellow: Eminent researchers in geospatial science core or adjacent fields that help to catalyze regional collaboration. These Fellowships support rising stars in their field who demonstrated exceptional research activity and impact and show promise of making a significant contribution to TGI’s research portfolio and mission. TGI Fellows are nominated through the process outlines in the Taylor Fellows program Notice of Opportunity.
• Distinguished TGI Fellow: Internationally renowned scholars in core geospatial and applied areas. The distinguished fellows elevate the awareness of TGI and its impact in the broader geospatial ecosystem.
• TGI Industry Fellow: Accomplished scientist/researcher from industry, who brings significant contributions to TGI’s missions and vision. 

TGI Working Groups

TGI is establishing a formal framework for faculty and researchers at partner institutions to establish “TGI Working Groups.” A TGI Working Group should consist of a group of researchers from two or more TGI institutions, who meet on a regular basis to pursue common goals related to TGI’s mission of advancing collaborative geospatial research. These working groups are a grass roots tool to engage a wider group of faculty around a focused interest area. The Institute can provide some resources to establish and sustain the working groups. 

Submit your proposal for creating a new TGI Working Group using the Notice of Opportunity for TGI Working Groups. 

The Research Council approved the following groups: 

• Spatial Humanities Working Group: Lead by Professor Peter Kastor (Washington University) and Professor Fabien Montcher (Saint Louis University).
• Water Security Research Working Group: Lead by Professor Jason Knouft (Saint Louis University)

More details on the working groups and meeting times will be posted soon. 

Our St. Louis Regional Geospatial Ecosystem

The St. Louis region is a powerhouse for geospatial science; linking research, industry, and government partners into a vital network of collaboration that makes an impact. As the home of Next NGA West, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s new headquarters, St. Louis has a vibrant ecosystem for geospatial research, training, and innovation.

The Taylor Geospatial Institute plays an important role in this thriving network through:

• Fostering globally recognized geospatial research
• Collaborations and exchanges between regional institutions and industry partners
• Recruiting leading geospatial scientists to the Institute and its partners
• Training the next generation of researchers, innovators, and business leaders

We add to an already extensive startup and entrepreneur landscape in St. Louis, including multiple industry innovation communities such as Cortex, T‑Rex, BioSTL, Moonshot Labs, 39 North, and a robust geospatial ecosystem consisting of over 350 companies.

And bringing together all of these academic, industry, and government initiatives is the GeoFutures Coalition – a strategic planning initiative supporting the growth of the geospatial ecosystem in St. Louis and ensuring that the city is viewed as the global leader in geospatial innovation.