IGRE has a long history as an EMU research center (previously CEITA – the Center for Environmental Information Technology and Application) for developing innovative research methods, technologies and applications in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) to address emerging challenges. IGRE collaborates with researchers across many universities and U.S. government agencies to develop spatial modeling, geo-computation, and GIS analytical tools and methods to support informed decision making in environmental studies, sustainable development, and land use planning. IGRE has won a good number of significant grants, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, completed many projects successfully, and developed a dozen useful software packages. More importantly, IGRE has been engaged in many K12 educational projects. For instances, IGRE has played a leading role in NSF ITEST projects: GRACE – GIS/T Resources and Applications for Career Education, and Mayor’s Youth Technology Corps – Creating Safe Communities through Information Technology Training in Homeland Security Applications; NSF Teacher Enhancement project: VISIT: Virtual Immersion in Science Inquiry for Teachers; NSF ATE project: Worksite Alliance – Community-based GIS Education; and NASA Climate Change Education project: Investigating Climate Change and Remote Sensing. Furthermore, IGRE has been an outreach arm of the Department of Geography and Geology. IGRE often employs 12 – 15 graduate and undergraduate students, 3-5 post-doctor fellows and visiting research scholars, and 2-3 faculty fellows per year. IGRE also places or recommends 3-5 student interns in regional and local organizations and industries per year.