Legacy Land Conservancy is pleased to partner with University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) to host Saniya Akins as a GIS intern this summer!
Saniya is a rising junior at University of Michigan on track to graduate early. She is majoring in Program in the Environment with a focus on Geographic Information Systems, or GIS.
GIS is a computer tool that helps us understand places by combining maps with other kinds of information. Its technology utilizes geographical data, or data embedded with location information, which can be layered, analyzed, and mapped.
The GIS tool and specialists like Saniya can help land conservancies organize, manage, and analyze this type of data so we can make better decisions about protecting land now and in the future. GIS helps Legacy see patterns and relationships that aren’t always obvious. By combining location data with information about forests, wetlands, rivers, wildlife, plants, trails, and communities, we can better understand how different parts of the landscape are connected.
For example, GIS can help identify neighborhoods that have limited access to parks or natural areas, show how nearby land use may affect wetlands, lakes, rivers, and streams, and track stewardship work such as invasive species treatments or prescribed burns on our nature preserves.
By turning complex data into easy-to-read maps, GIS helps Legacy plan conservation projects, care for protected lands, and share information with our community. You may have seen maps in our press releases, newsletters and annual reports, or on our website showing Legacy’s impact and protected land throughout Washtenaw, Jackson, and Lenawee counties.
While many of the Legacy staff know how to use GIS, it can be hard to carve out time for larger GIS projects, so we are excited to welcome Saniya and her expertise to the team this summer!
Having the opportunity to expand our partnership with University of Michigan’s SEAS program to further the mapping capacity at Legacy will allow us to do more complex analysis with the software.
“We are excited to create maps that highlight how protected lands are connected across our region, offering a clearer picture of the conservation corridors our community is building together,” Susan LaCroix Legacy Land Protection Director said. “We’re also taking a fresh look at our existing maps and identifying communities within our service area that don’t have easy access to public greenspace within walking distance.”
These projects help us better understand where conservation efforts are making a difference and where opportunities still exist. Just as importantly, maps turn complex information into something people can easily see and understand, making it easier to share the impact of our work and engage our community in protecting the places that matter most.
Saniya comes to Legacy with a breadth of experience and the opportunity to further her real-world experience with GIS. She is currently researching resilient hub networks with the Taubman College of Urban Planning and previously researched heat and runoff mitigating effects of urban forests.
“I look forward to learning from all of Legacy’s staff while continuing to improve my GIS skills within the scope of conservation,” Akins said. “Legacy’s mission of land conservation aligns with my goals within the environmental field by ensuring public access to green spaces that uphold ecological integrity within Michigan.”
In addition to mapping and data organization, Saniya will have the opportunity to explore the different roles at Legacy, from nonprofit administration to preserve stewardship.
If you see Saniya out and about this summer, we hope you will join us in welcoming her to the Legacy family!
Saniya grew up in Macomb, MI where her love for gardening led her to pursue an academic path in environmental science. Currently a junior with UofM’s program in the environment, she has forged a path combining geospatial science with ecology. This passion for ecology and natural spaces is what motivates her in her role as Legacy’s GIS Intern.
Prior to joining the team, Saniya worked at a plant nursery for four years, learning and teaching others about the variety of plants in the Midwest area. Additionally, she serves as VP of Programming for University of Michigan’s environmental science organization, Epsilon Eta, which she has been a member of since her freshman year. Combining this experience with two research assistantships focusing on the health benefits of urban greenspaces, and increasing climate resilience and community efficacy in Southwest Detroit; Saniya is dedicated to creating a career in environmental science. Outside of academics, Saniya spends her time playing the guitar, baking, and hiking.