Maps, GIS, and Beyond

From the start, the LAKES REU has emphasized the need for interdisciplinary research to address the water quality problems that the community faces. As I progress through my project, I have learned more about how important it is to incorporate fields of research other than your own. Each discipline can inform the others and, in this case, limnological knowledge is imperative to understand so that our projects can accurately reflect the problems in the watershed. Also, interdisciplinary research allows us to determine what problems are of the greatest importance and to solve problems more thoroughly.

My project will present the areas of cropland that have the greatest potential for nutrient runoff and are therefore the best areas for conversion to grassland. This research topic is already interdisciplinary, as I put my environmental science knowledge to work within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework. The background knowledge I have is integral for understanding the variables that make an area more prone to nutrient runoff. Additionally, GIS is an incredible tool that can be incorporated into interdisciplinary research for analysis and visualization. With so much data available, there is great potential for incorporating different topics to identify trends and answer questions. And mapping can benefit almost any field, as maps can help communicate difficult topics and display data in a way that the public can appreciate. I have discussed making maps with several fellow students, including the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve project, which could benefit from a map of the general area or of current restoration projects.

Furthermore, after finding the potential conversion area, I am looking to include the amount of corn or beef that could be raised on the land as well as the financial worth of those amounts. The work on grass fed beef could come in handy, and will provide a unique perspective on the proposition, different from my own. With the inclusion of the economics research, I will be able to present a more persuasive project that people can more fully understand.

Moreover, discussing the community and phosphorus pollution issue with the anthropology and psychology folks gives me a broader perspective and allows me to understand the stances of the community on the issue, as well as what they are willing to do to address it. There is no point in proposing natural science-backed plans if there is no support or it does not benefit the community. In the anthropology projects, they are seeking the balance between the science and the people so that the land is managed in a way that can support the ecosystem but also be backed by the community. Overall, interdisciplinary research allows us to more fully comprehend the issues at hand. And maps can help tell the story of almost any discipline’s research in a way that grants more people access to important knowledge.