Michael Goodchild is the foremost expert in geographic information science (GIScience), having laid down its foundations in 1992 as the science of collecting, analysing, digitising and using geographic data. GIScience already underpins much of modern life — from satellite navigation systems in cars and town planning to flood prevention and managing disease outbreaks, as well as the emerging ‘Internet of Things’.

Advances in technology mean enormous quantities of data are routinely collected. Michael has led research into new techniques for managing and analysing the very large databases that result, and for handling uncertainty in the data. He is also spearheading new ways of mass collection and analysis of geographic data with crowdsourced mapping and citizen science projects.

Amongst many awards recognising the impact of his work, Michael has received the Prix Vautrin Lud — informally known as the ‘Nobel Prize of Geography’ — and the Royal Geographical Society’s Founder’s Medal in 2003. He is a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the US National Academy of Sciences.