Dr. Daniel A. Griffith, Ashbel Smith Professor of geospatial information sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been recognized by the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) with the 2021 Jean Paelinck RSAI Award for Distinguished Sustained Scholarship in Regional Science Methods.
The RSAI is an international community of scholars interested in the regional impacts of national or global processes of economic and social change. The biennial award honors the outstanding scholarly achievement of a senior and internationally recognized regional scientist and recognizes innovative contributions to the development of regional science methods.
“I am tremendously honored and humbled by this lifetime achievement award, which I especially cherish because its eponymous renowned economist was one of my mentors,” said Griffith, who is an RSAI fellow.
The award also recognizes how scholarly excellence is developed at an early stage and sustained throughout the recipient’s academic career.
“The committee is convinced that since the early 1970s till these days, Professor Griffith consistently contributed to and shaped the field of regional science and, in general, advanced spatial statistics by publishing more than 180 journal articles,” the award selection committee said. “His contributions have been recognized with awards from many academic societies and professional organizations, including being an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association.”
Griffith has taught in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences since 2005. He received the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science Research Award in 2017 and was elected one of its fellows in 2018.
He was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in 2005 and 2014 and was named a Foreign Member of the Royal Society of Canada in 2017.
Mediation Team Wins Title in World Tournament
An undergraduate student mediation team from The University of Texas at Dallas recently won an international title and is preparing for a competition against law school students from around the world.
The three-student team won the advocate-client division of the International Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament held virtually in the fall. The event was presented by the InterNational Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR).
“I was surprised and so thankful,” said Hadia Siddiqui, a psychology senior in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. “Despite some technical difficulties that hampered our preparation time, we were still able to win first place, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Joining Siddiqui on the UT Dallas team were Veda Tsai, an interdisciplinary studies senior, and Ifunanya Ngadi, an information technology and systems senior in the Naveen Jindal School of Management.
Jared Pugh, a business administration senior in the Jindal School, also participated in the tournament as a replacement team member for Principia College in Illinois. His individual performance ranked sixth at the international event.
All four students are now considered “All-Americans” by the INADR.
Tony Seagroves, a local attorney who serves as coach of the UT Dallas mediation and mock trial teams, said the key for success in a mediation tournament is to be open minded and willing to negotiate in good faith.
“It’s teaching the students how to think outside of the box, finding common ground with people without making it personal and without taking it personally,” said Seagroves, who was named coach of the year at the tournament. “Ultimately, they should become better speakers and listeners, while developing the ability to see things from both sides.”
The performance earned the team a spot in the International Law School Mediation Tournament, which will be held virtually March 2-5. Although the UT Dallas team will be one of only two non-law-school teams at the competition, Siddiqui said she is excited to participate.
“We are up for a challenge and, regardless of the results, I look forward to the learning experience,” she said.