Full Name: Chima Okpa
Background:
1) What major(s), minors, and/or certificates you are working on at UMD?
I am currently completing a degree in Geographic Information Systems with a focus in international and sustainable development.
I am currently completing a degree in Geographic Information Systems with a focus in international and sustainable development.
2) What are your interests within your program(s)?
My interests include utilizing GIS to map locations for sustainable development programs in developing regions. I am also interested in how individuals from rural communities in developing countries respond to the introduction of progressive structures in their environment.
My interests include utilizing GIS to map locations for sustainable development programs in developing regions. I am also interested in how individuals from rural communities in developing countries respond to the introduction of progressive structures in their environment.
3) What previous jobs, internships, and volunteer experience have you had?
I interned with WindAid Institute, an NGO that works in the renewable energy sector, designing, building, and installing wind turbines in Peru.
I interned with WindAid Institute, an NGO that works in the renewable energy sector, designing, building, and installing wind turbines in Peru.
4) Where you are from?
Lanham, MD
Lanham, MD
Internship:
1) Where you are interning?
Currently I am working as a remote sensing research intern supervised by Dr. Matthew Hansen of the UMD Geographical Sciences department.
1) Where you are interning?
Currently I am working as a remote sensing research intern supervised by Dr. Matthew Hansen of the UMD Geographical Sciences department.
2) What are your internship responsibilities?
My responsibilities include image interpretation and classification of forest cover and forest loss in the Brazilian Amazonas, multivariate statistical analysis, and performing a quality assessment of the Geographical Sciences department’s product and Brazilian product PRODES.
My responsibilities include image interpretation and classification of forest cover and forest loss in the Brazilian Amazonas, multivariate statistical analysis, and performing a quality assessment of the Geographical Sciences department’s product and Brazilian product PRODES.
3) What project(s) are you working on or contributing to?
I am working on a project that analyzes the accuracy of Brazilian forest cover data and the effectiveness of Brazilian policy in reducing deforestation.
I am working on a project that analyzes the accuracy of Brazilian forest cover data and the effectiveness of Brazilian policy in reducing deforestation.
4) How is the internship experience relevant to your studies in Geographical Sciences?
This internship has allowed me to take the knowledge, methods, and technical skills I have acquired in the classroom and apply them in a practical way.
This internship has allowed me to take the knowledge, methods, and technical skills I have acquired in the classroom and apply them in a practical way.
5) What are your career goals after you graduate?
After graduating I intend to take a gap year to gain work experience before pursuing graduate degrees in Geography and International Development.
After graduating I intend to take a gap year to gain work experience before pursuing graduate degrees in Geography and International Development.
