Women and GIS: Mapping Their Stories

I would tell this to all young women: Be bold. Be daring. Be honest. Be gracious. Be generous. Be passionate. Do not let anyone silence you or impede your progress ... . (Kass Green, business woman, imagery specialist, and author)

Women look to other women as role models and inspiration. Seeing confidence, leadership, and accomplishments in other women helps a young woman envision herself with those qualities. Women and GIS: Mapping Their Stories tells the tales of how 23 women applied themselves and overcame obstacles, using maps, analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS) to contribute to their professions and the world. Sharing the experiences of their childhoods, the misstarts and challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned, each story is a celebration of a woman's unique path and of the perseverance and hard work it takes to achieve success.

In this book, you'll meet:

• Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, the Colombian field scientist whose research using GIS with globally threatened tropical bird species helped restore habitat for 45 bird species in the Andes
• Madison Vorva, the 23-year-old former Girl Scout whose childhood love of orangutans drove her to successfully convince Girl Scouts USA, Kellogg's, and other companies to stop sourcing an unsustainable ingredient
• Catherine Ball, an environmental scientist turned entrepreneur leading five values-based start-up companies that promote #dronesforgood used for research and humanitarian causes
• And other remarkable women who pushed the boundaries

From oceanographers to activists, archaeologists to entrepreneurs, the women in Women and GIS: Mapping Their Stories can serve as mentors to motivate readers who are developing their own life stories and inspire their potential in a new way.