MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University’s Dr. Robin Q. Zhang, chair of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, was recently honored with the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing’s (ASPRS) Estes Memorial Teaching Award in recognition of her achievements in the promotion of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) technology and application through educational efforts.

The award, which consists of a plaque and a $3,000 cash award, will be bestowed at the ASPRS Award presentation Tuesday, Feb. 11 in Denver, Colorado, as part of Geo Week 2025.

“Dr. Zhang is much deserving of this award,” said Dr. Claire Fuller, dean of the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology. “She pours her heart and soul into her teaching, curriculum development and ensuring students have what they need to excel.”

Zhang said a fellow remote sensing and GIS scientist from Kentucky nominated her for the award, but she didn’t expect it at all.

“This award means a lot to me,” said Zhang. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to teach in a field that I love. I am grateful to the many great teachers and mentors I have had and the many students with whom I have crossed paths.”

“I would like to thank my colleagues, bosses, mentors and friends at Murray State University,” said Zhang. “They gave me space to grow and supported me for more than 20 years. Last but not least, my family has always been there for me. My husband and children sacrificed while I struggled with work-life balance, especially the earlier years during my career here.”

The Estes Memorial Teaching Award is made in honor of Dr. John E. “Jack” Estes: teacher, mentor, scientist and friend of the ASPRS. This award is presented by ASPRS through the ASPRS Foundation with funding provided by Leidos. Estes was a pioneer in the remote sensing and GIS fields, a professor at the University of California Santa Barbara for more than 30 years before he died in 2001. During his career, Estes contributed to more than 250 publications and popular remote sensing and GIS texts and manuals. The Estes Memorial Teaching Award was inaugurated in 2003.

Zhang said her grandmother, an elementary school teacher from rural southwestern China, though retired by the time Zhang was born, was her first teacher. She credits her middle school teacher who gifted her a globe in her first geography class for sowing the seed for her future career. Her master’s program advisor later introduced her to GIS and remote sensing in the early 1990s. 

Now, Zhang is introducing her own students to GIS technology and shaping their futures. Recently, two Murray State University Earth and Environmental Sciences alumni, Marshall Thompson, ‘22, and Logan McGowan, ‘23, demonstrated their impressive GIS knowledge during a presentation of their work on grave mapping at the City of Murray Cemetery and various utility features throughout the city during the Murray City Council meeting on Nov. 14.

“As a professor, the best reward I could ask for was to see students learn and succeed,” said Zhang. “Over the years, I have had students looking back and sharing their story with me, oftentimes, out of the blue in an email. That always makes my day. These stories keep me going.”