By Nicole Findlay
Christy Nieman was recently presented with the Wreford Watson Award. The honour is bestowed on the most outstanding students entering their fourth year in a Department of Geography and Environmental Studies’ program.
“I did not apply for it, and I must admit, it was a pleasant surprise when I was notified that it was to be awarded to me,” said Nieman.
After opting for Linux, instead of a proprietary operating system on her home computer, Nieman developed an appreciation for Open Source software. She paired that interest with her increasing knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS).
“In the past couple of years, I have realized that there is a great deal of Open Source software out there that many people don’t know about,” said Nieman. “Many of the programs are well-developed and are gaining significant followings. For example, MapServer is the most widely used rendering engine for web mapping.”
Nieman invested the $850 and will put it toward the last few courses that comprise her BA. While she may continue on with graduate studies, Nieman will take a few years off to gain some work experience in her field.