Student Spotlight: Cooper Thomas '14

Geography major Cooper Thomas '14 will spend the 2014–2015 academic year in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as a Fulbright Fellow. There, he will conduct independent research on post-socialist urbanization and cultural transformation. Inspired by his coursework in urban geography and GIS, as well as a personal interest in Central Asia's social and political history, Cooper will explore the ways in which Bishkek's urban design, land use patterns, architecture, and iconography reflect the reconstitution of Kyrgyz national identity. As an avid cartographer, Cooper will also use advanced spatial analysis techniques to quantify and visualize trends in urban development. His research will culminate in a multimedia report comprised of text analysis, photography and video, and graphical data visualizations.