CSCR will facilitate environmental projects to help the community address the many environmental challenges that come with climate change. Students will develop the geospatial skills needed in an ever-evolving high-tech world. MassGIS will help lead the next generation of geospatial professionals and strengthen their connections with municipalities and community groups.
CSCR enables high school students to explore their local environment, map it with geospatial technologies, analyze the data, and share it with stakeholders to inform best environmental management practices. They have partnered with a variety of institutions, such as government agencies (e.g., Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary and MassDEP), research institutions (e.g., MIT Sea Grant and Mass Bays Program), colleges and universities (e.g., UMASS–Boston and Stonehill College), watershed associations (e.g., North South River Watershed and Neponset River Watershed Association), and local high schools (e.g., Cohasset and Scituate High Schools).
CSCR’s latest research project focused on environmental data and geospatial technology. The CSCR team examined the foundational lessons from the Top 20 Essential Skills for ArcGIS Online book and reconstructed them into environmental-based lessons using MassGIS Data. Students completed each reconstructed lesson step by step and then completed a similar skill for their environmental topic, demonstrating mastery of the lesson. The final product was an environmental community-based ArcGIS StoryMap that stood as evidence of applied geospatial skills, which the students used to answer the question: How valuable is open space to your town?
Three students, Rishik Kundu of Chelmsford and Charlotte Lynch and Rosemary Guzek of Scituate presented their StoryMaps to State GIO and Director of MassGIS Cy Smith and MassGIS Deputy Director Tom Mueller.
CSCR intern Kelly Kowenhoven and CSCR students Charlotte Lynch, Rosemary Guzek and Rishik Kundu
The students examined a variety of issues, including heat severity, flood impacts, and protecting their water supply. Their understanding of geospatial tools and their applications was very impressive, and they presented their findings effectively.
View the students' StoryMaps on the value of open space:
In addition, CSCR intern Kelly Kowenhoven presented her Experience Builder application on Bacteria Counts in the Cohasset and Gulf River.
Each student received a Certificate of Proficiency signed by Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security Jason Snyder, Cy Smith, and CSCR Executive Director Jack Buckley.
MassGIS and CSCR are currently working on improving the program for its next session in Fall 2025.
The students also created StoryMaps highlighting their GIS Skills:
| Date published: | July 24, 2025 |
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