Welcome to GEOG 587 - Conservation GIS

Hi, I'm Nathan Piekielek and I'm here to welcome you to Conservation GIS. Geospatial professionals are invaluable to environmental management and conservation organizations. They're often the glue that holds things together and they're relied upon to be interdisciplinary experts. In developing this course, I've drawn on my own experience as a GIS specialist and data manager for the U.S National Park Service to assemble what I wish I knew then, into the curriculum. In the course, emphasis is placed on the spatial data and geospatial technologies that are most useful to environmental conservation efforts. Finally, students are asked to push the limits of their own technical GIS skills by completing a term project. My hope is that by taking this course, you're better prepared to serve as an environmental geospatial professional.

Hi, I'm Nathan Piekielek, geospatial librarian, and an associate professor of geography at Penn State University. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Conservation GIS and other environmental topics, both online and in person. I've worked as a career professional employee for the U.S National Park Service, and have been doing research on, and with, national parks for the last 20 years. I'm passionate about environmental and biodiversity conservation, both personally and professionally. My professional experiences strongly support that spatial data and analysis are critical aspects of environmental management in a complex and changing world. In my spare time, it's probably not surprising that I love to be active and, in the outdoors, especially with my family. Biking, hiking, running, and generally exploring invigorates and connects me to the natural world. I look forward to seeing you in class!