Ashton Nagasuru Wins the Teuvo Airola Memorial Award in Environmental Geomatics

Major:  Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources

Minor or certificate: Environmental Geomatics Certificate

Award name: Teuvo Airola Memorial Award in Environmental Geomatics

I can't remember a time when I wasn't fascinated by nature, even as a child, I had an inherent respect for the environment. Thus, when it came time to choose a major, I eventually decided on the one that aligned with what has been the most important to me throughout my life. During my time at Rutgers, I’ve learned just as much from what I wasn’t explicitly taught as from what I was. I grew to think more critically and question everything. My goal, just like many people in this field, is, ultimately, to inspire environmental protection, and my experiences at Rutgers have allowed me to begin to grasp the ways in which I can contribute to such a lofty objective.

I was introduced to GIS in my classes, and learned how to not just perform analyses of spatial data, but to combine my scientific comprehension and artistic abilities to create detailed maps that can inspire change. I have worked for organizations such as Rutgers CRSSA and the nonprofit Buffalo Field Campaign, creating maps for the conservation of wild bison, and for the NJDEP, where I use GIS to support the protection of rare species. I also completed a G.H.C. Thesis, in which I traveled to Ecuador to map Indigenous communities, to support their efforts to protect their land against development. This project allowed me to explore how spatial analyses can be utilized to protect and share Indigenous culture.

In the future, I will keep working towards my goals of sustaining this astounding interconnection we have with all of nature. I hope to continue to work with Indigenous communities as well as expand my understanding by learning all I can from the world that surrounds me.