Upskilling Diverse Youth in Geospatial Data Science

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Geospatial data science is booming with the rise of the privatized satellite imagery industry in the New Space era. A key new application is mapping climate and environmental risks with highly detailed spatial data. LA faces diverse environmental harms, disproportionately affecting underserved communities. Policymakers need to understand the urgency for redress, and residents deserve to know the problem's extent. Geospatial mapping and visual storytelling can empower residents to make positive change. Our network of partners in the UCLA Center for Diverse Leadership (https://tinyurl.com/drtripati-geothara-LA2050) and Breakthrough Tech are tackling impactful community projects using GIS, but face challenges with costly tools and inadequate training. We propose an internship and certification program providing training in open-source tools and free licenses. This initiative aims to support LA County centers and non-profits, inspiring the next generation of geospatial professionals.

The grant will support an initiative providing pro bono training and certification in geospatial data science to address environmental and climate challenges in Los Angeles County. It targets students of community colleges and at UCLA, and potentially high schools, as well as other interested residents. The program offers both free training and paid internships to cultivate a new generation of geospatial professionals
Program Components: Pro Bono Training and Certification:
Residents and School Curriculum: Training for community residents and integration into school curricula at UCLA, LA community colleges, and High Schools (potentially King Drew High School).
Geospatial Data Science Basics: Dr. Solomon Vimal will cover foundational geospatial data science concepts through a 10-week hands-on course offered in a hybrid format. Internship Case Studies for Visual Storytelling:
Base Data Layer - LA County and City Growth: Participants will create videos illustrating the growth of LA over decades of its history, in the style of popular educational content creators like Ollie Bye (Geothara's UI/UX expert). Using this layer, interns will work on project case studies, such as:
Oil and Gas Wells: Mapping and analyzing their environmental impacts.
PFAS Pollution: Visualizing pollution spread and its effects.
Housing-Health: Correlating housing conditions with health outcomes.
These videos will empower LA residents to engage in government processes and advocate for community changes.

Competence in data analytics, comfort using AI, and proficiency with geospatial tools are the skills of the future. After Geothara successfully trains hundreds of residents, Los Angeles County will be better prepared for the jobs and creative demands of the coming decades. Students impacted by this project will gain skills that offer them a significant advantage in obtaining engaging, high-paying jobs in Los Angeles. The creative industry in LA is adapting to incorporate data into more and more creative content, whether in advertising and marketing or in shows like Extrapolations and Explained. The industry will see an influx of young people who possess the skills and passion to continue this trend. Finally, Los Angeles will be a safer and healthier place. Residents will more fully understand the health, environmental, and housing issues around them and will be more persuasive advocates. Decision makers will more effectively target policies based on data and science.

As a proposed initiative, we will define and measure success through several key metrics. First, we will track enrollment and completion rates of the certification program, aiming for a high percentage of participants to finish the courses. Success will also be measured by participant feedback through surveys and interviews, assessing their confidence and skills gained in geospatial data science.
We will monitor the number of case studies initiated by graduates, particularly focusing on their ability to use geospatial tools to address environmental and climate issues. Case studies and video projects will be evaluated for their quality and impact in public forums and government hearings. Additionally, we will measure the reach and engagement of our success stories shared on social media platforms.