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Now accepting applications for Canada’s 2021 Esri Young Scholar

Published Date
Author Krista Amolins

The Esri Young Scholars Award celebrates the achievements in geospatial sciences of students around the world. Past winners in Canada have been involved in such diverse research as examining air pollution exposure, evaluating global conservation priorities, and conducting spatiotemporal analyses of kelp distribution. If you are a full-time student at a college or university in Canada and think you have what it takes to be Canada’s 10th Esri Young Scholar, submit your application by April 23, 2021.

Every year since 2012, a call has gone out to students across Canada: submit research in which you’ve used Esri technology for a chance to be named an Esri Young Scholar and win a trip to the Esri User Conference in San Diego! Although the ongoing pandemic and resulting shift to virtual events mean that this year’s winner will not be travelling to San Diego, they will nevertheless join a growing community of past and present Esri Young Scholars from around the world. Last year, more than two dozen students interacted during a virtual meet and greet at the UC and had their posters on display in a special section of the Virtual Map Gallery.

Explore the story map to learn about the 2020 International Esri Young Scholars and view their posters.

A well-designed poster is a key part of the application for any potential Esri Young Scholar in Canada. It takes careful thought and consideration to create a poster that balances text, maps and other visual elements in a way that allows the viewer to understand quickly what the research is about, while also inviting them to read more. The posters of the most recent winners show that there is more than one “right” way to lay out a poster.

This year, students will also be required to submit a story map as part of their application. We look forward to seeing how they rise to the challenge of presenting their work in an interactive format!

Applications are due by 5 p.m. EDT on April 23, 2021. To be eligible to apply, students need to have used Esri technology to complete a project or research and be enrolled full-time at a university or college in Canada. The application must include:

  • A poster that highlights the objectives, methods and results of the project/research.
  • A story map that complements the contents of the poster.
  • A personal statement describing the student’s experience and future plans with GIS.
  • Academic transcripts.

More details about the application requirements and the award are available along with the application form in the Esri Canada Scholars Portal.

This post was translated to French and can be viewed here.

About the Author

Krista Amolins is a Higher Education Specialist with Esri Canada. Her career in GIS started when she came across the Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering program at the University of New Brunswick and thought it sounded interesting. She earned a PhD in Geomatics Engineering, focusing on lidar data classification, and now she supports teaching and learning with ArcGIS at colleges and universities across Canada. Krista particularly enjoys interacting with the students who receive an Esri Canada GIS Scholarship or apply for the Esri Young Scholars Award each year. She also enjoys playing with apps and doing a bit of coding when she has time.

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