Day 12: Happy GIS Day!
Happy GIS Day! During our 12 days of GIS, we hope you enjoyed exploring various resources like the Treasure Hunt: GIS around the World!, Connect the dots, SDG Geospatial Learning Lab, and the Modern GIS curriculum.
To celebrate GIS Day, we interviewed a few members of our team about their favorite aspects of working in GIS and their advice for those wanting to learn or work in GIS. We hope you have a great GIS Day!
Niki Wong
Niki’s favorite landmark is the Merlion fountain overlooking the Marina Bay in Singapore, a symbol o...
Niki is a product engineer on the Learn ArcGIS team who focuses on public health, racial equity, and social justice scenarios.
Why did you choose a career in GIS?
GIS is a perfect combination of all the things I want in my career. It's technical, data-driven, and multi-disciplinary, requires skills in database management, artistic design, and communication, and is a powerful tool for addressing the world's most complex and important questions and issues. It's a one stop shop tool for the kind of work I am passionate about and motivates me to use both sides of my brain.
What's your favorite part about working in GIS?
I love the power of GIS to visualize information that makes data become compelling. Not only can it communicate and inspire by being a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing visual, but the information it carries can influence important decisions affecting people's lives. I love getting to work with maps for public health and environmental policy applications.
Any advice for anyone learning GIS or starting a career in GIS?
Be curious and try everything! One thing I love about GIS is that as you gain more skills and explore the vast possibilities with the technology, questions will naturally flow from your exploration. Be creative in how you can apply it to whatever field or industry you're interested in. Even if it's not a field you end up staying in forever, the skills you gain in GIS can be applied to any field you might encounter in the future.
Adena Schutzberg
Adena’s favorite landmark is the Nittany Lion Shrine on the Penn State University campus.
Adena is an Education Specialist on the Learn ArcGIS team who focuses on learning materials for K-12 educators.
Why did you choose a career in GIS?
I really didn't! I was hired by a consulting firm that did environmental mapping because I had a shiny new geography degree. It was there that I taught myself AutoCAD and later AutoCAD-based GIS.
What's your favorite part about working in GIS?
There are new challenges in the natural and man-made world every day. I know my work helping individuals teach and learn GIS will help make the world a better place.
Any advice for anyone learning GIS or starting a career in GIS?
My favorite tip is for both learning GIS and starting a career: Learn how to learn! Practice learning new software products (GIS and others) and other skills (how to play the guitar) to find the way you learn best. Is it by clicking on all the buttons on a software interface to see what they do? Is it by taking a formal class? Reading a book? Watching a video? Doing a tutorial?
Eric Wagner
Eric’s favorite landmark is the mini-Statue of Liberty in the middle of the Susquehanna River in Pen...
Eric Wagner is a product engineer on the Learn ArcGIS team who enjoys creating educational content to teach new and experienced users how to utilize ArcGIS though videos. His favorite GIS topics are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), drones, and field data collection.
Why did you choose a career in GIS?
I didn't choose the GIS life; the GIS life chose me.
What's your favorite part about working in GIS?
The best part of working with GIS has been the chance to work on various projects all over the world! I'm especially fond of the volunteer mapping work that improves the lives of others in need. It's never the same thing twice.
Any advice for anyone learning GIS or starting a career in GIS?
Never say "no" when the opportunity to learn something new presents itself. Most of the technical and interpersonal skills that I have today came from jumping into projects where I was clueless about the road ahead. You only grow when you venture beyond your comfort zone.
Thank you for following along! And don’t forget the GIS-themed Wordle of the day.
Gather your community and explore all things GIS. Register for your event and receive support and software donations! Learn more about registering for your event.
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