INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION - DAVID O'SULLIVAN

Contact Information

Department of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science
Private Bag 92019
The University of Auckland
Auckland 1142
New Zealand

PHONE: +64 (9) 373-7599 extn. 84963
FAX: +64 (9) 373-7434
E-MAIL: Please use the course e-mail system (see the In Touch tab above), but in an emergency it's d.osullivan@auckland.ac.nz.

AVAILABILITY: Students are welcome to contact me by email anytime; I usually am able to respond within 24 hours. Although e-mail (i.e. course e-mail) correspondence is preferred, students may also contact me by telephone at the number above from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday through Friday, New Zealand Time. (that's 18 hours ahead of the time in Penn State for most of the current quarter).

Welcome to GEOG 586

I'm David O'Sullivan, course author and lead instructor.

It took me a while to find my niche in spatial analysis and modeling. I started out with an Engineering degree from Cambridge (England) more years ago than I care to remember. I actually worked as an engineer for 8 years. Then I happened upon GIS (it's a long story) and in rapid succession took a Masters degree (Glasgow, Scotland) and PhD (London, England). That took me to Penn State where I first became involved with the E-Education Institute through my position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography.

And now... I am a Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

I do research in spatial analysis and urban simulation modeling. Recently, I have been particularly interested in how we measure and analyze segregation between different communities in urban areas. I have worked on understanding gentrification and other urban neighborhood changes. While, I am mostly interested in urban and human applications of GIS technology and methods, I am broadly interested in the potential of these methods for environmental management and in support of geographic research in general, with invasive weed dispersal a recent focus..

I'm a long way from where I started (Ireland), but my wife Gill (that's pronounced 'Jill') is a Kiwi, so winding up here one day was always on the cards! Gill is a freelance journalist working for newspapers and magazines here. We have two small boys, Fintan (7, turning 8 in November) and Malachy (6)—those are Irish names—who keep us both busier than we ever thought possible. When we can find the time, the beaches, mountains and forests are a constant source of enjoyment.

All the best for the course!

- David O'Sullivan

p.s. Want to learn a bit more about me? See my brief self-introduction video!