ECO-SPACE: Geospatial Competence and Education in Biosciences

It is widely recognised that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are essential tools for landscape and environmental analysis in a rapidly changing world. Across the public and private sectors, geospatial data and competence are seen as strategically essential for addressing societal challenges and for decision-making.

We reviewed the biology curricula at the six major universities in Norway (UiB, UiO, UiT, UiS, UNIS, and NTNU) and identified a shortage of courses integrating geospatial competence with key biological topics. Most courses in GIS or RS are aimed at students in geology, geography and engineering, missing the opportunity for biology student to learn to apply geospatial methods and tools to ecological data and models. At the same time, biodiversity and ecological mapping, spatial planning, and sustainable economic development have been identified as priority areas in the National Geospatial Strategy 2018.  

To tackle this gap, we developed the ECO-SPACE project at the University of Bergen that applies GIS and RS tools and analyses to biogeography and global change ecology through self-paced, universal design modules that combine conceptual theory with hands-on work. At the same time, we established international and interdisciplinary collaborations with several European institutions already experienced in applying GIS and RS to biological topics. We also involved Earth Science departments, where advanced geospatial methods are more fully embedded, and public- and industry-based stakeholders in Norway engaged in biodiversity monitoring, spatial planning, and environmental management.  

Our modules are designed to bridge academic and applied perspectives, ensuring that they reflect both scientific advances and the real-world geospatial competencies demanded by the labour market. They address topics such as spatiotemporal dynamics of biome distributions and extents, biodiversity assessments, and climate–ecosystem interactions. Our approach aims to foster spatial critical-thinking skills to interpret biological phenomena in complex landscapes, building practical competence in GIS and RS tools, and enabling students to apply spatial analyses to real-world ecological and biogeographical research.