Attendance Soars at High School Open House, Fueling Interest in Geography

The GIS Day event expands from 24 to 62 participants, offering a deeper dive into geographical sciences and real-world applications.

For the Chakraborty family, attending GIS Day: High School Open House in the Department of Geographical Sciences was more than just a campus visit—it was a “huge investment.” Traveling from rural Salisbury, Maryland, the Chakrabortys made a two-day commitment, taking time off work and staying overnight to fully engage with the Open House.

The Chakrabortys’s experience reflects the Open House’s growing impact. Now in its third year, the event, organized by Professor and Associate Chair George Hurtt and faculty specialist Valeria Morales, has grown from 15 and 24 attendees in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to 62 in 2024. “This is about being proactive, and reaching out to find and engage with the next generation of GEOG students and their families to help examine and address the most pressing environmental challenges, and it's resonating,” said Hurtt.

Sankar Chakraborty is the embodiment of an engaged parent. "We’re proud that Urjit [son] was one of the presenters today," Urjit shared his recent experience with GEOG’s High School Internship Program (HIP), part of the department’s high school outreach.

Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Xiaopeng Song and Ph.D. student Yue Ma, high school students Urjit and Alejandro Barry-Obregon were tasked with coming up with their own ideas and solving a problem. "That was a whole new experience for us, and it was fascinating trying to figure out how to approach it," said Urjit. The students worked on detecting and segmenting solar panels using satellite imagery and analyzing historical land use in those areas.

"I had no idea GIS could tie into things I already know,” said Urjit, a self-taught programmer. “The internship showed me how computer science, like Python and JavaScript, can apply to geography and problem-solving in a way I never thought about before. What I found especially interesting was that our research was being used for something real.”

Urjit’s experience mirrored that of many students in the department’s summer internship program. "This is the kind of research I want to do," one student said. "It’s not just academic. It’s being used to make a difference."

A Day of Discovery and Inspiration

The Open House brought high school students from across the region to explore the dynamic field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Attendees gained insights into how GIS integrates with computer science, environmental studies and public policy. In addition to the summer internship presentations, the event featured an informational session by UMD Admissions, a student panel about life as a GEOG major, lightning talks on students’ research, a campus tour and participation in GEOG 170: Mapping our Digital World.

Rachel Rowan, a social studies teacher at the International High School at Langley Park, brings her students to the Open House every year. As an AP Human Geography teacher, she sees it as a valuable chance for her students, many of whom are first-generation college-bound. “I like that students get to sit in on a lecture class because that can look very different from their high school setting,” Rowan said. “And I'm always hoping they'll find more of a love and passion for geography.”

Another highlight was the panels with undergraduates to PhD students. “The panels were fantastic,” said mother Mou Chakraborty. “Hearing about dual-degree options and time management was very helpful. It gave us a better idea of what the future could look like.”

Jibreel Reynolds, a junior at DeMatha Catholic High School, described how the Open House helped him see geography in a new light. "It was a really eye-opening experience. I didn’t know that much about colleges until I got here, and seeing all my upperclassmen working on projects I didn’t know could be done was inspiring.”

From Maps to Models: A New Perspective

The Open House also sparked Jibreel’s interest in geography’s broader impacts, like climate change and digital mapping tools. "It just opened my eyes to how geography affects everything, from political collaboration to environmental issues," Jibreel said. "I want to apply for the internship next summer."

Liam Radocevic, another DeMatha student, echoed Jibreel’s enthusiasm. “The Open House gave me a deeper insight into how important geography is to the world,” he shared. “Without geographical knowledge, we wouldn't know how to plan for the future."

For Rowan’s students, the day helped demystify GIS and tech careers. “It’s a huge opportunity for them to see the connections between what they’re learning and real-world implications,” she said. "It shows them that geography isn’t just about maps—it’s about understanding the world on a deeper level."

Sankar Chakraborty also reflected on geography’s evolution: "Today, geography is about analyzing data, solving problems and using advanced computing tools—it’s not the geography we learned about in school.”

By the day’s end, the Chakraborty family left UMD energized. “We’re very happy with how everything went,” Sankar Chakraborty said. "This program has opened up so many possibilities for Urjit where he can combine his love for technology with impactful work. That’s all we could ask for.”
 

Published on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 16:44