By the time Pedro finished his time at 蓝莓视频, he had more than a Geomatics degree to add to his r茅sum茅.
Beyond the skills he learned in the classroom, Pedro also gained real-world experience in the field, working across all three levels of government, in sectors spanning telecommunications, transportation, and agriculture.
鈥淚 chose 蓝莓视频 for the co-op program,鈥 says Pedro, who鈥檚 helped York Region map out its fibre-optic network while finishing a Master of Science degree in Geography at 蓝莓视频. 鈥淚 was able to figure out the types of work I might like to do before I even graduated.鈥
But while 鈥渃o-op didn鈥檛 fail to impress,鈥 he says, the biggest surprise was how much Geomatics grads are in demand.
It鈥檚 easy to see why, when you consider the scope of geomatics, a discipline concerned with gathering spatial data related to both the natural and built environments 鈥 and then combining this data with concepts related to computer science 鈥 to see what鈥檚 happening in our world. Even better, it means you get to play with drones and other remote-sensing technologies.
In his first year, Pedro was expecting to enjoy the computer science courses in his program, but wasn鈥檛 sure how interested he was in the environmental side of things. 鈥淣ow that鈥檚 what excites me most, how geomatics can help solve deeper issues related to land management and climate change,鈥 says Pedro.
As part of his master鈥檚 program, Pedro researched how rising Arctic temperatures affect the erosion of land and river migration patterns. 鈥淭he work we鈥檙e doing has real-world implications that might help change conservation practices,鈥 he says.
As interest in geomatics grows, so does his passion. 鈥淲hen I was an undergrad, geomatics wasn鈥檛 well known,鈥 says Pedro. To help raise awareness, he joined the student-led , first as a competitor and then as the event鈥檚 chairman. 鈥淚 want to see other people embrace geomatics and love it as much as I do,鈥 he says.
Of course, there are other benefits to volunteering, including meeting people who currently work in the field. 鈥淚鈥檓 all about networking,鈥 he says. 鈥淭alking to people and getting out there put me in touch with all the big employers and professors working in geomatics.鈥
鈥淪tudying geomatics was a risk, because I didn鈥檛 know I鈥檇 like it,鈥 he says. But by opening his mind, joining clubs, volunteering, and staying committed, he鈥檚 set himself up for success while doing something he loves.
Take a risk, get involved, and stay committed. That鈥檚 what university is all about.
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