I've added a Geographic Information Science (GIS) Certificate to my degree. I'm really excited about it. I got to play with some GIS equipment and programs in STEAM Club. One of my favorite Geology instructors at Phoenix College teaches some GIS courses. GIS is such a useful tool. While I was exploring potential research projects, I kept coming across remote imaging studies for monitoring harmful algal blooms. I starting thinking about it, and the majority of the sites that I go to first to explore data related to environmental science use maps and satellite imagery. I've already been interacting with GIS; how much cooler to include that a little more in-depth in my studies? The certificate is an extra 20 credit hours, so I'll have to be vigilant about taking only the classes that I need for my degree and certificate for financial reasons, but it's going to be totally worth it.
I started the first class (GIS205) a few weeks ago, and it's really interesting and fun so far. I've gotten to play around in Google Earth Pro (which btw is totally free and you can do that on your own if you like), and I've had the chance to learn about some more specific projects and applications. I am increasingly convinced the knowledge is going to be amazing to have. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that ASU also has a Bachelor's and graduate degrees for GIS. There's some links below to the certificate and to the Maps and Geospatial Hub (super interesting stuff here). In the first TEDx video below, Cheryl Hanewicz specifically mentions Maricopa County, and talks about some ways that government is using GIS. In the second TEDx video, Dan Scollon starts talking about some of his projects at about 8:30. He says, "No longer are maps simply held by those in positions of power but rather are a canvas upon which all of us can convey and claim our own future and our own sense of place. They can still be used for resource exploitation, for economic inequality, for the perpetuation of violence, for violations of privacy; but they can also be used to democratize, to organize, to advocate, to design, and to dream." The third TEDx video is fascinating. Monica Stephens talks about representation and some social inequality related to GIS. It's interesting to listen to all three speakers and compare the differences in how they talk about using and sharing GIS data.
