Fatema Hussaini, the new coordinator for the Facility for Advanced Spatial Technology (FAST) Lab, has ambitious plans for the improvement of outreach and the adoption of spatial technology among students and faculty. The lab’s new goal under her guidance is to support student learning and skill development in geospatial analysis, cartography, and geovisualization. Additionally, they hope to host workshops and training sessions to expand student collaborations with different departments on campus and to support interdisciplinary students’ research. In the long term, they envision the Fast Lab as a hub for innovative geospatial research, recognized within the university. The aim, according to Fatema, is “to contribute to the advancement of geospatial technologies and their applications in various fields, including geology, geography, architecture, archaeology, urban planning, and environmental analysis”.

With a background primarily in the field of geography, Fatema holds master’s degrees in geography and urban planning, as well as a master’s degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a focus on Geoinformatics, from Murray State University in Kentucky. When asked why she came to CU Denver, Fatima said she was “drawn (here) because of the University’s excellent reputation.” She believes that “working in academia allows individuals to engage in intellectual pursuits and to constantly learn and grow.” The Fast Lab's focus is geospatial analysis, which involves data and information related to geographic locations. Geovisualization is the process of presenting geographic information visually through maps or other visual mediums, thus enabling a better understanding and analysis of spatial data. To this end, the Lab hosts software supporting these pursuits.