Welcome aboard- Elizabeth Reyes

​GEM Environmental is proud to welcome our newest team member! Elizabeth Reyes is our new GIS Analyst. Elizabeth is from New Jersey. Her interests are reading newspapers, gardening and traveling. Some places that she has visited are Canada, Vietnam, the Philippines and Mexico. Elizabeth feels that it is important to be an all-rounded person so one can connect with others about multiple topics. Welcome aboard Elizabeth!

​“STEM is an underestimated and evolving field. Learning about STEM becomes a building block for solving nature's mysteries. The world is interconnected so environmental responsibilities become vital. As STEM makes strides towards advancement, we must be willing to educate and enhance the interest in STEM. Learning new skills never stops.” -Elizabeth Reyes

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Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
As a staff scientist, my main focus is to create maps from the collected field data. By surveying the landscape, the data accuracy increases. Using GIS software, maps are represented as evidence to support reports. Making maps is a mixture of art and science. Without GIS, visuals can be deceiving which can confuse an audience.
Other responsibilities include communicating with people of various backgrounds, writing reports and tracking project development.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I hope to gain professional experience while expanding my skillset. I want to improve on leadership skills. As I look forward to meeting everyone, building a network in the STEM field provides a foundation for potential career development opportunities.

Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
I plan to pursue for further education. Currently, I have a bachelor's degree and a GIS certificate. I plan to have a master's degree in the future.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
I haven't had the chance of having an internship experience. I have done short term service work. Giving back to the community allows me to remain humble. Service work can change perspectives of what you had once thought of.
 
Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields?
Don't underestimate yourself and don't be afraid of going out of your comfort zone. Until you try, you won't know what you are capable of. Unlike stability, wisdom comes from growth.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH CLICK HERE.