Congratulations Danielle Derrick for receiving honorable mention in Esri’s New Global Content Challenge. Danielle is completing her Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in evolution, ecology, and behaviour. Danielle started taking GIS with the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies when it was recommended as being a strong asset to have in her career field. Danielle has been taking GIS courses since her second year of university – close to three years now. Professor Dan Patterson introduced Danielle to the competition. Danielle entered the competition thinking it would be an interesting way to test out ESRI software she’d never heard of and to have a great chance at winning some funding for grad school. She is hoping to pursue a graduate degree in 2017.
Danielle would like to pursue conservation management as a career, incorporating GIS. Tiger conservation came to her as an idea because it involves both conservation management strategies, but also a method of public education that can be interactive. Danielle believes one of the most influential factors affecting conservation is public education:
“if we can create webpages or ‘features’ that are interactive and can hold someone’s attention – who knows nothing about GIS or Tiger Conservation – then we have the chance to impart a huge influence on how conservation strategies can continue. Media has become such an important aspect in our lives, and if I can somehow use it to create a positive impact, then I am going to try and do it to start change. I thought the ESRI story map was a great way to get a conservation method across to an audience that may not be knowledgeable in the GIS field or the Science field, but may still want to know what’s going on and how they may be able to help.”
Well done Danielle! We wish you the best of luck finishing your combined degrees and with your future work in conservation and geomatics.
You can read more about Danielle’s Content Map: The Race for Survival here.