got geoint?

Welcome to the Friday’s Food for Thought post from got geoint? As always, we hope that you accomplished new heights professionally this week and can afford to give yourself a little downtime to reflect and re-charge your mind. That’s why we are here. Each week, we aim to provide a post that enlightens and entertains. For this week’s FFFT post, we are going to focus on students, science and GEOINT. The NGA recently hosted a science demonstration at West Springfield High School on LiDAR and we thought the idea of empowering students would be the perfect FFFT post theme. We hope you enjoy and happy Friday!

NGA Employees Host Science Demonstration for Springfield Area High School Students
Researchers with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s InnoVision Directorate spoke to more than 200 West Springfield High School students about Light Detection and Ranging, or LIDAR, during a science and technology presentation Dec. 19 as part of the agency’s Partners in Education program. The presentation, which was the first event under NGA’s new PIE partnership with WSHS, highlighted the basic scientific principles of LIDAR while showing its real-world applications in areas such as geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT, environmental management, mapping, geology and even archaeology. Check out more here.

Did You Check Out Our Podcast with Students from Joppatowne High School?
Speaking of bright high school students, did you check out our podcast last year with a number of Joppatowne High School students? These bright future superstars of the GEOINT world participated in the Student Science & Technology Showcase at 2011 Technology Day, which featured award-winning projects from high school participants of the Science Fair and Technology Student Association competitions. We had the unique pleasure of speaking with Joppatowne HS students Sintel Paige, Seaver Shunk, Andrea Rogers and Lavale Banks, as well as Eve Bour – their GIS Teacher. Be sure to check it out here.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Summer 2012 Student Employment Program
Although the slots have already been filled up for this year, the NGA offers summer internships for students, and really what better way to get real GEOINT experience? The NGA hires the best qualified students and aligns them within the agency to assist in meeting its mission needs. Those chosen students actually receive real work experience, professional development training, and participate in planned activities throughout the summer designed to enhance their understanding of the agency’s mission.

The Youngest Google Maps Developers
While this story may be a bit old, it is still worthy of showcasing. A group of students at Fox Primary School in London developed this map of Kensington Palace. That’s right, we are talking about elementary school kids doing GEOINT.

School Days by the Kinks
Yes, indeed. School days were such happy days, as highlighted in this under-the radar ballad that makes us all feel a bit nostalgic. We hope you enjoy and be cool, stay in school.

Tags: Friday's Food for Thought, GEOINT and education, Joppatowne High School, School Days, Science and geospatial intelligence, The Kinks, USGIF