Esri User Conference to highlight mapping technology

June 21, 2018 - By Allison Kral

Esri will be hosting its 38th annual Esri User Conference July 9-13 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. The company expects more than 18,000 mapping and GIS users to attend the event, which will include 345 technical workshops and 243 presentations.

Futurist Juan Enriquez will present the keynote speech, “Evolving Ourselves — Redesigning the Future of Humanity.” According to Esri, his talk will explore the future of humanity as it depends on the intersection of geography and genetics as we design our places and ourselves.

Attendees will also hear presentations from users who are creating smarter organizations that can tackle complex global issues, including how to create more sustainable businesses, address homelessness, diminish poverty and counter the effects of climate change, Esri added.

Other presenters will include:

Civil rights leader and activist Dolores Huerta, who will discuss how the Dolores Huerta Foundation utilizes Esri technology to inspire and organize communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice;
New York Times best-selling authors James and Deborah Fallows, who will discuss their book “Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America,” which provides anecdotal stories about the challenges small-town America faces; and
Felix Finkbeiner, a recent college graduate and recipient of the German Federal Cross of Merit, will detail his Trillion Trees Campaign — a commitment to the environment that has grown from planting 1 million trees to planting more than 15 billion trees in 190 countries under the guidance of the United Nations Environment Programme.

“The Esri User Conference is truly as the name suggests — a conference for our users,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and learn from each other so we can take part in personal development and organizational advancement to further the impact that we can have on our planet.”