Profile: |10 March 2020
Mersiah making a presentation (Credit: Miho Hanamura, SADC-JICA FIS Advance Training)
Young Seychellois Mersiah Rose makes strides within the GIS field
The conventional ideal often sold to young people at the beginning of their career is that, more often than not, it is best for prospective career pathways to be clearly defined and identified as early into a young person’s formative educational experience as possible.
By comparison, 24-year-old Geographic Information System (GIS) technician Mersiah Rose has a different story.
“Prior to applying for the GIS technician role, I had no knowledge that this type of work existed. I had been working as a water lab technician at the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) and had always loved anything science-related. I was reading the newspaper one morning and came across this vacancy for GIS technician for the project entitled ‘Expansion and Strengthening of the Protected Area Subsystem of the Outer Islands of Seychelles and its Integration into the Broader Land and Seascape’, or Outer Islands Project (OIP) for short. This project is overseen by the GOS-GEF-UNDP Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) and the job involved working in the Climate Science and Data Management (CSDM) section of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC),” said Mersiah.
Recognising the importance of the CSDM section and national database for the storage of information, the OIP provided the CSDM section with a new GIS technician to continue to enhance the capacity of the section in data management. Mersiah saw her opportunity and decided to apply.
“I studied Geography, Biology and Chemistry at A-Level and thought that this advert aligned with my interest areas. Upon applying, I Googled the term ‘GIS technician’ and was fascinated. As a child, I had always travelled to some of our islands, as both of my parents had jobs that often took them there. I saw this role as an opportunity to do right by me and my islands and concluded that this would be a good job for me,” she added.
Mersiah’s role as a GIS technician
The Global Information System or ‘GIS’ is a computer system engineered to capture, store, analyse, manage and manipulate data, according to their geological reference that is their location on the Earth’s surface. It assists in visualising many different kinds of data on one map, such as: roads, rivers, buildings and vegetation. This enables people to analyse, understand patterns and relationships, in order to plan and facilitate better decision-making efficiently. In her role as a GIS technician, Mersiah captures, manipulates and manages spatial data. She also assists clients, such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government ministries and students with issues relating to GIS, remote sensing and data management.
“I have been given the opportunity to participate in mapping expeditions, as well as collate and store environmental data. I have also undertaken data management and have managed online repositories, metadata and web portals. In addition to these responsibilities, I attend meetings, workshops and trainings for the section. I also support with in-house trainings for basic use of GIS applications and GIS-related gadgets, such as GPS and portable tablets for field collection.
“I enjoy sitting down with clients to assist them in planning their survey or advising them on how to better represent the data that they already have. This provides me with the chance to learn more about a range of projects that I would otherwise not be exposed to. Given that the work of a GIS technician is often undertaken remotely in front of a computer screen, I enjoy the opportunity to step out of the office and undertake field work! My job is more enjoyable as a result, and my passion for the role extends beyond the typical working day. Preserving our environment is a source of motivation for me to work and strive for more in my role,” claimed Mersiah.
Mersiah’s passion for GIS and her role as a GIS technician is breaking the mould in terms of traditional gender perceptions of specific roles within the environment sector. After undertaking a gender-based analysis in 2019, it was confirmed that the PCU has embedded a ‘gender transformative’ approach across its projects. Gender transformative approaches refer to changing established beliefs, norms, cultural values and power structures regarding gender roles and gender stereotypes, through actions or messages within projects that encourage people to think differently in terms of gender equality and women empowerment.
Recommended ways in which this approach could be embraced include: 1) encouraging women applicants to respond to advertisements for consultancies and/or project vacancies where women are not very present, and 2) identifying local women who may have acquired specialised skills on a project and investigate ways through which they could maximise those skills (e.g. through some form of national qualification/certification). This would enhance their professional worth and open doors to better-paid jobs or to more independent work, should they choose to follow through.
One of the benefits of GIS is its cost-effectiveness in gathering data. GIS technicians can work remotely and can still be sent information that is uploaded onto software and systems. Data often already exists and the client generally agrees upon its accuracy before it is manipulated. GIS can also assist with the development of a centralised database, which, according to Mersiah is an area where more work is required.
“In a country as small as Seychelles, we need a central database that allows us to find information on a wide range of issues. Whether these are health-related issues, water treatment tests, types of vegetation or otherwise, spatial data should be made available for all database managers. The most challenging task we face as GIS professionals is data acquisition, or the sharing of data. As a result, data replication can be rife because data ownership rights are limited. This also means that funding for surveys or projects conducted in order to acquire data is often duplicated. However, we work with a network of people who are on the Seychelles Geospatial Working Group. We try to minimise the need for data replication through this, as data sharing increases and is fortified,” she pointed out.
Successful environment-related projects and research undertaken
Working on the OIP – which aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in the Seychelles’ outer islands by expanding the protected areas system and strengthening protected area management – has given Mersiah the opportunities to maximise her skills further.
“My ability to work remotely as a GIS technician has allowed the outer islands project to make effective use of GIS technology. For example, we undertook a lot of remote sensing for sea grass mapping, which was mapped extensively. Tasks like this were primarily conducted by the GIS officer. Although there are occasionally moments where we need personnel on the ground to clarify certain aspects, we have great confidence in the software.
“This role has opened my eyes as to how much work is actually done in the Seychelles. The amount of successful environment-related projects and research undertaken is mind-blowing! Professionally, my experiences in this role have made me more assertive and confident. I have travelled abroad for training, too, which has allowed me to further expand both my personal and professional networks,” added Mersiah.
In spite of the opportunities presented by GIS, Mersiah acknowledged that some people encounter blockages to truly embracing the software. She cited a lack of familiarity with different versions of the software among one of the key reasons for this.
"People often fear that they are not creative enough to produce a decent interactive map and would prefer someone else to do it. However, this can be overcome by constant practice and through trial-and-error. There is a degree of self-confidence required to believe in the map you have designed. My colleagues often serve as a support network and we regularly ask for each other’s opinions. Some people are often put off by continuing to use GIS because they use closed or paid versions of the software and then struggle to maintain funding to continue paying for licences. There is software, however – such as QGIS and Open Street Map – that is open and available for free download,” she explained.
Reflecting on her own personal growth since undertaking the role, as well as her next steps, Mersiah said that she would continue to embrace the challenges and opportunities presented by GIS to broaden her confidence and skill sets further. She also shared her thoughts on encouraging more women to consider pursuing careers that use GIS software at its core.
“I encourage Seychellois women to take up GIS. In my experience, I have seen a large number of women who practice GIS, both in the country and abroad, with many of them who are leading in the field. It is a field of constant change; new software and applications are developed; new tools are added and there is a sense of excitement to learn and apply new skills in the longer term. I believe that women who are working in this field are making this perceived male-dominated profession more accessible. Because we are women, it is almost as if we are giving the role a ‘wow’ factor. This is a rewarding career path, as the opportunities are vast and ever-evolving, based on the nature of the technology and the demand for it.
“I do not know what the future holds for me just now. The GIS field is so vast and trainings I have undertaken in this role have been incredibly educational. I am keen to venture into fields that make use of GIS – such as academic research – as well as other work, such as hydrography or real-time data management.
“I have grown as an individual and am more aware of my own limitations, while also being able to push myself into the ‘challenge zone’. I work with a team that supports me and has helped me to grow. This has allowed me to increase in confidence when sharing my ideas; I can better stand my ground. Working as a GIS technician has absolutely strengthened my resolve to preserve and protect our paradise,” concluded Mersiah.
Contributed
