This meeting involves sociologists, economists, demographers, political scientists, criminologists, geographers, and epidemiologists who study such diverse topics as neighborhood transition and segregation, environmental change and risk, crime and criminal justice, social stratification, income inequality, racial and ethnic inequality, and health and illness. All of these topics implicitly or explicitly have spatial dimensions and involve spatial effects, and to various degrees may benefit from the use of spatial analysis models and techniques. At this meeting participants will share insights and questions regarding the role of space in their respective research areas, as well as the possibilities of strengthening and integrating research on inequality/equity issues through the spatial perspective.

Our purpose is to identify the ways in which CSISS can support the development and dissemination of spatial theories and concepts, tools and techniques (such as geographic information systems), and formal analytic methods that will support research efforts in the various social science disciplines.

Meeting Goals

• The identification of research questions related to inequality and equity, where consideration of the spatial dimensions of the issues has led to, or is most likely to lead to new insights.
  
  
• The identification of emerging issues in research on inequality and equity requiring new developments in spatial theory, methodology or technology, with an eye to developing future CSISS workshops (this would include identifying topics, target audiences, and potential workshop instructors).
  
  
• The identification and prioritization of specific learning materials that could be collected, developed, and disseminated by CSISS, to support research and instruction on the spatial aspects of inequality and equity w the identification and prioritization of specific software tools, including methods, platforms, and implementations, that CSISS could refine or further develop to support research and instruction on inequality and equity.
  
  
• The identification and prioritization of specific materials related to the study of inequality and equity that could be collected as part of CSISS' virtual community.

Steering Committee

• Richard Appelbaum, co-chair
  (CSISS, University of California, Santa Barbara)
  
  
• John Logan, co-chair
  (SUNY- Albany)
  
  
• Helen Couclelis
  (CSISS, University of California, Santa Barbara)
  
  
• John Sprague
  (Washington University, St. Louis