This semester I was introduced to Geographic Information Science through GEOB 270 – computer based graphical methods of data input and analysis.

I’ve completed five labs with topics ranging from housing affordability to planning a ski resort; I learned how to shuffle through data and display it clearly and effectively in map form. I’ve poured countless hours into ArcGIS this semester and I’m proud of my determination to complete every lab, following the step by step directions along the way.  I’m surprised by the shear range of topics GIS can be used for – epidemiology, climate change, coastal flooding, the list goes on and on with endless career opportunities. Although it’s amazing the amount of data that we have at our fingertips, it’s also challenging to distinguish what’s ethically correct and what data should remain private from the public. After taking this course I am interested in furthering my GIS education and potentially merging it into a career with my interests in biogeography and climate change.