How to Contact or Collaborate with RS&GIS at Michigan State University

Updated

RS&GIS (Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Science) at Michigan State University is a research and service unit within the university's geography department. To reach them, start with the official site at rsgis.msu.edu and look for a Contact, People, or Staff directory page. The site is the authoritative source for current contact channels; specific emails, phone numbers, and addresses are not fixed here because they can change and should be confirmed directly on the site.

What RS&GIS Is (Context for Your Outreach)

RS&GIS at MSU supports remote sensing and GIS research, teaching, and applied projects. People typically contact the unit for:

  • Research collaboration — joint projects, grant partnerships, or data analysis
  • Technical support — questions about GIS/remote sensing methods, software, or datasets
  • Student inquiries — coursework, advising, or research opportunities
  • Service requests — mapping, spatial analysis, or imagery processing for a project

Knowing which category you fall into helps you pick the right path and frame your message.

Where to Find Contact Information

Because contact details are published on the site rather than in this guide, use these entry points:

What you need Where to look on rsgis.msu.edu
Staff names and roles People, Staff, or Directory page
General inquiries Contact page or department main office
Collaboration proposals Faculty or principal investigator listings
Technical questions Support or Services section

If the site links to MSU's main geography department, that department's directory is also a valid route to reach RS&GIS personnel.

Before You Reach Out: What to Prepare

A clear, specific message gets a faster and more useful reply. Prepare:

  1. Your affiliation — university, agency, company, or independent
  2. Project background — one or two sentences on what you're working on
  3. Your specific need — data, analysis, collaboration, or a question
  4. Timeline — any deadlines or project phases
  5. What you're asking for — a meeting, a quote, advice, or a partnership

For collaboration specifically, mention funding status, scope, and what each side would contribute.

Choosing the Right Path

  • General inquiry → use the site's main contact form or department office
  • Technical support → look for a services or support contact; describe your data and software
  • Collaboration → contact a faculty member or researcher whose work matches your project
  • Student questions → check academic program pages or advising contacts first

Common Pitfalls

  • Assuming a single contact address — different needs route to different people
  • Vague messages — "I want to collaborate" without scope rarely gets a useful response
  • Ignoring the site's current info — always verify emails and roles on the live page, since staff and channels change
  • Skipping the department — if RS&GIS pages are thin on contact details, MSU's geography department is a reliable fallback

Bottom Line

Go to rsgis.msu.edu, find the People or Contact section, and match your request to the right person or form. Prepare a concise summary of your project and need before writing. Treat the website as the source of truth for all current contact details, and use the MSU geography department as a secondary route if needed.