Hello everyone! My name is Athena Iraji, and I’m a Master of Environmental Studies (MES) student at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies. I’m very excited to join the Esri Canada Centres of Excellence (ECCE) community and to share my journey and research interests with other students and GIS professionals across the country.

Before starting my graduate studies, I developed a strong interest in how spatial data and visualization can shape better environmental policies and urban planning decisions. At Dalhousie, my research focuses on coastal development patterns and regulatory change in Nova Scotia, particularly after the suspension of the province’s Coastal Protection Act. I use open data, spatial analysis, and remote sensing to examine how development pressures are affecting coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and community resilience.

My connection to GIS started when I realized how powerful maps are for uncovering invisible patterns in environmental data. I was drawn to GIS because it brings together my interests in data-driven analysis, environmental sustainability, and storytelling, helping transform complex information into clear, actionable insights. I love how GIS allows me to explore questions about space, policy, and human–environment relationships from multiple scales.