This might not be sufficient and perhaps too simple, but this is what came to mind when I read your email:
“Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”
Unless you are already using examples instead of a succinct definition, stretch “Where in the World…” to cover various things:
population density (particular types of animals, insects, people)
natural resources (gold, oil, precious gems, certain minerals)
global dietary practices (meat, chicken, fish or rice, potatoes, pasta)
Compare change over time with side by side examples.
I know that GIS can be far fancier and complex, but “most” people should find such general themes easy to comprehend.
As an archivist and historian who loves to work with maps in any form, I am looking forward to learning how to apply GIS to my family genealogy by mapping out
where my various ancestors once lived and then create a visual cartographic progression as they moved across the American continent. I also want to map out their final resting places and actually travel to see their graves someday.
Leslie Wagner
Metadata Archivist
Access & Discovery
University of Texas at Arlington Libraries
817-272-6209
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Quill, Theresa Marguerite
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Explaining GIS to non-GIS folks
As GIS Day is approaching, what is your go-to definition of GIS that you use to explain to the general public? It seems that every year I struggle to find a succinct definition that will fit on
a poster and make sense to most people.
Does anyone have a great example? Do you use GIScience or GISystems?
--
Theresa Quill
Social Sciences Librarian (GIS/Maps)
Indiana University Bloomington