Emily Burden has now completed a 12-month assignment as Space for Nature Project Intern within SWT’s Research and Monitoring team.
We asked Emily about her work, her motivation and her plans for the future.
Q: What is your career and academic history to date and how did that lead you to work as part of the Space4Nature team?
A: Before working with Surrey Wildlife Trust, I completed an undergraduate degree in Geography with Applied GIS during where I learned about climate, environmental processes and data analysis, among other topics. When I finished university, I was unsure what I wanted to do, so I worked in an administrative role in the NHS for about a year until I applied for a GIS Officer role at Surrey Wildlife Trust. As I had always been interested in conservation and had a background in GIS I thought it sounded like a challenging but exciting role. While I did not get the GIS officer role, I was lucky to be offered the opportunity of an internship on the Space4Nature Project, an opportunity I jumped at.
Starting the Space4Nature Project internship has been an excellent gateway for me into the conservation sector, where I have learnt so much.
Q: You’ve been working on the development of ‘StoryMaps’ for the project. What are they and why do they matter?
A: ArcGIS StoryMaps is a web-based application where you can build narratives and create stories about your subject using mixed media content with interactive elements.
In the context of Space4Nature my aim was to initiate the beginnings of a StoryMap collection which will not only help people understand and gain more insight into the project, but also act as a narrative for the project as it progresses over its three years, allowing both the S4N team and the public to see the project grow and develop.
Q: What have been the toughest challenges in working on a project of this sort?
A: The toughest challenge for me in this project has been finding ways to explain complex concepts in earth observation and remote sensing that are digestible and understandable. This is because I had to make sure that I understood the topic fully enough, to be able to go back and explain it accurately and in a way that people who have not extensively researched the topic will still understand.
I particularly built my skills in science communication while working on the ‘Space4Nature technologies’ StoryMap - and I think I’ve made a good resource for the project at the same time.
I have also enjoyed the challenge of building some plant ID skills, which is something I aim to continue developing.
Q: What do you think the future holds for the project in Surrey?
I think the project is at a very exciting phase. After having a spring and summer full of volunteers collecting ground-truthed data at the test sites, the project will soon be approaching the stage where the data gets fed into the machine learning system to train it to recognise habitats and sub-habitat types. This will be an important step in refining Space4Nature’s methodologies.
When the tool is fully developed, I think the Space4Nature project will have made a very valuable tool to help those in the conservation sector prioritise nature’s protection and recovery across Surrey and hopefully many other areas of the UK too.
In addition to having a finished tool for professionals to use, the project’s process and progress over the three years will also demonstrate how to engage communities to get involved with conservation in a way that really makes a difference.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: After being introduced to the conservation sector by Surrey Wildlife Trust, I would love to continue working in it.
With the aim to work in research and monitoring in conservation projects, I’m planning to complete a master’s degree in conservation and biodiversity to further help me develop skills in ecology and conservation. I would love to continue to be involved with the Wildlife Trusts because they provide such excellent opportunities for learning and make positive impacts on the environment.
Q: Do you have any advice for other young people who want to pursue a career or research in the conservation field?
A: My advice would be to explore as lots of different options, try lots of things, and say yes to any opportunities that you might get. University is helpful for a career in conservation, but definitely not essential, so don’t feel pressured to follow what might be ‘the obvious route’.
Furthermore, things like work experience and volunteering are what make you really stand out and help you grow, develop, and find things out about yourself, whether you go to university or not.
There are lots of different routes to get into your area of interest if you are enthusiastic, reflective, and perseverant, so keep trying and learning lots of different things.