A new way of interpreting data — the GIS Accelerator Program
The GIS Accelerator program is a five-day intensive course that introduces basic GIS skills to participants. The next cohort of the program started Jan. 6.

Ximena Solorzano, Staff Photographer
The Yale GIS Accelerator program — which aims to teach University affiliates how to utilize geographic information systems, or GIS, in projects — began on Jan. 6, 2025. It is a five-day intensive GIS instruction program led by Jill Kelly, a lecturer at the School of Public Health.
The program consists of lectures, demos, lab exercises and mentorship from GIS consultants to help participants properly visualize and analyze their spatial data. It does not require any prerequisites. Held biannually in January and June, the program offers a hybrid format for participants.
“Participants leave the program with basic GIS skills, at least one completed map of their project data, an understanding of the kinds of spatial analysis they could pursue next, and — we hope — an enthusiasm for further geospatial work,” Kelly told the News.
At the end of the program, participants present final presentations. Guest reviewers from Yale, the government, other universities, and the private sector are invited to give feedback during these presentations.
According to Miriam Olivares, head of Geospatial Support Services, over 94 percent of respondents for a satisfaction survey ranked their satisfaction with the program as excellent.
“It is impressive to see trainees with little to no exposure to geospatial technology learn quickly and complete a GIS introductory project, often tied to their current research, that showcases their passion and progress in just one week,” Olivares said. “I attribute this success to the participants’ awareness of the power of adopting geospatial technology in their research, and therefore their eagerness to learn, as well as to the expertise and pedagogical approach of the lead instructor, Dr. Jill Kelly, an outstanding GIS educator.”
The program on average hosts around 40 participants. For Kelly, leading this program has brought her joy in seeing the diversity of projects and meeting new people.
“I like seeing the projects develop from a tangle of mysterious data into a coherent map,” Kelly said. “Once in a while, a participant really catches the geospatial bug and goes on to take a bunch of GIS courses or study independently and then makes GIS and spatial analysis a core of their work … It’s rewarding to have given these researchers their first look at the topic.”
For Kelly, watching participants publish spatial papers in their respective disciplines and make real world impacts is meaningful for her.
Selin Goren ’24, who participated in the program in winter 2023, learned how to use GIS as a tool for geospatial data analysis and mapping.
“I ended up using some of these [GIS] tools to create maps for my senior thesis in Environmental Studies the following semester,” Goren said. “In order to get the most out of this experience, it’s a good idea to go into it with a geospatial analysis question and find some good data to use for the analysis beforehand. Since the accelerator is a full-day commitment for 5 days and the concepts move really fast, I’d advise people to take it when they have a free week and can commit full-time to learning GIS during that week.”
This GIS Accelerator program will be held from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10, 2025.