Hometown: Kingston, ON
Graduate Research Focus:
The overall theme of my thesis has been to integrate heterogeneous geosensing data into conventional geoscience workflows. This was achieved through three projects. This first was to review the use of close range (<1m) laser scanners for digitizing, visualizing, sharing and printing geological hand samples and apply close-range laser scanning to samples of rock, fossil and core in order to determine how they can best be incorporated into established geoscience workflows. The second was to minimize the effects of shadow in multispectral (blue, green and NIR bands) in Calgary, Alberta, using LiDAR reflectance data for improved NDVI mapping workflows. The third was to detect retreat of the East Channel of the Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories using Synthetic Aperture Radar intensity data for improved shoreline monitoring.
Why I chose to do graduate studies:
I had the opportunity to work for my advisor, Dr. Fotopoulos, starting in the summer of third year and throughout the rest of my undergraduate degree. I enjoyed my project so much that I decided to pursue it further which led into a graduate degree.
Why Queen’s?:
I chose Queen’s after visiting two other highly acclaimed university campuses and engineering schools. One was too focussed on grades and the other university was too isolated from regular community life, which is very important to me. Queen’s had an excellent engineering program and the campus itself is set in the middle of Kingston. Queen’s is also one of the only universities with a “geological engineering” program.
What do you do in your spare time?:
Cooking elaborate meals, reading every single mystery novel I can get my hands on and hanging out with my friends and family.
What’s next for you?:
Job search, further education, travel.