EMC Environmental Officer Participates in Training for Women Professionals in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) in Arizona

EMC’s Environmental Officer, Shannon Stephenson, represented the University of Guyana in the Empowering Women in Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Sciences Train the Trainers workshop at Arizona State University (ASU) in May 2022.

The workshop is a joint initiative between ASU and SERVIR-Amazonia, who have partnered to promote the development of professional women in GIS by strengthening their technical and social skills in environmental sciences and geospatial technologies.

EMC’s Shannon Stephenson (fifth from the left) at the GIS workshop in Arizona.

Innovations in GIS are creating more opportunities in environmental science and natural resource management. However, women’s involvement and participation in the GIS workforce is low despite their contributions in environmental management and technology.

“Opportunities like these are vital to help bridge the gap in the environmental field where women’s contributions are often underrepresented. I better understand the concepts and general applications of GIS, and its value in solving emerging environmental problems. I will apply what I learned to our projects in EMC and in my everyday life. I hope such opportunities become more accessible to women in Guyana and encourage them to consider careers in GIS.”

EMC champions professional development and opportunities for women in the environmental field through networking, training, and mentoring.