February 2016 GeoMentor Spotlight: Marci Johnson
Each month we'll feature at least one GeoMentor volunteer, learning more about them and the wonderful and enthusiastic talent available in our GeoMentor community to assist K-12 schools with GIS and geography applications for their classrooms.Read about our currently featured member of the community below, or check out previously featured GeoMentors by using the navigation links on the right. If you are interested in being featured, go here for more information. We are excited to learn more about our GeoMentor community members!
If you aren't a GeoMentor yet, we'd love to have you participate!
February 2016 GeoMentor Spotlight
Marci Johnson - Biologist, National Park Service
What was your favorite class in K-12? Anatomy
How did you first learn about and/or use GIS? I took a course during my last semester at the University of Colorado, but by graduation that spring the software I had learned was already obsolete. It wasn't until I moved to Glacier National Park that my boss taught me to use ArcView v.3 to help plan a bear project.
Name one thing you love about GIS and/or geography: Analyzing wildlife habitat use and movement data.
Why did you want to volunteer as a GeoMentor? I've enjoyed helping students using ArcGIS Online for science fair projects and always learn new skills when I help others.
What kind of GeoMentor volunteer opportunity and experience are you looking for? I would welcome requests for help on a project or questions about the work I do.
If someone asked you why they should learn about GIS and/or geography, how would you respond in one sentence? GIS skills are valuable in many careers, including wildlife biology, and offer young people a way to apply interests in computers, technology, and design into their work. By adding a spatial component you will find yourself answering questions that you had never thought to ask.
Email address: marci_johnson@nps.gov
Website: Our blog highlights some of the work we do in the Western Arctic National Parklands: http://www.nps.gov/kova/blogs/runningherd.htm
If you are interested in being featured, visit here for more information.