Question: What is GIS and why do you do it ? What job would you do if you weren't a GIS student?

Sylwia Nikel answered on 8 Mar 2018:

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems (Sciences). It is a technology which allows to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data. AS in one of my previous answers, I loved maths and geography at school but could not imagine what I could do after choosing geography in college and university. It was coincidence I was introduced to GIS technology and I simply “fell in love” with it.

I must say I am quite proud of who I am. I didn’t have the easiest start in my life, I had lots of family problems when I was a kid and when I was a young adult I fell out with my whole family for few years. I have managed however to get out of it stronger and better. At the same time, I decided to study GIS at UNIGIS UK and now doing last year of my MSc degree. I’m also quite proud of my career development. I’m where I want to be and I have an opportunity with my present employer to shape my career as it suits my ambitions.

I actually don’t know really what I would be doing if I wasn’t GIS specialist and wasn’t studying it too. I have lots of diverse interest outside of work. One of them includes playing guitar and singing, hence a rock start career was one of my dreams when I was a kid. I also love cooking and inventing new dishes and one of my dreams is to open my own restaurant or cafe but probably when I will be much older, maybe for my retirement. Recently I have discovered I enjoy greatly to share my knowledge and there was a moment when I was at the STEM ambassadors induction that I was thinking I would be great career advisor. I think if I was to change my profession now I would strongly consider this profession.

As just one person I can’t but GIS technology can. Because I believe in it, it often keeps me going, this feeling of being part of something that makes a difference.