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Ambassador Spotlight ‘Maryna Storie’

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Maryna Storie from SADC, South Africa:

How long have you been in the industry? 28 years
How did you get into surveying? Through working as GIS expert with Engineers
Not a surveyor? What do you do? GIS and Remote Sensing and RPAS/UAV
Any associations and organisations that you’d like to mention:GISC (USA); SAGC (RSA); GISSA (SA); DMISA (SA) as GISP; PrGisc and PrDM
Why is GKiS important? It is in their early youth that kids get passionate. Primary school is a fantastic time to introduce it without making it a ‘subject burden’ that teenagers often see such things in high school. Catch them early and at the same time support teachers
What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador: Distribute the initiative across primary schools in particular
What are your hobbies? Flying including Drones.
Anything else you’d like to add: I would want to help get the word out – across countries in Africa where I work

Ambassador Spotlight ‘Grace Ngwenya’

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Grace Ngwenya who is covering the Somerset area of the UK:

Where did you study? Midlands State University -BSc Hons Surveying and Geomatics
Requirements to be a Surveyor in your area?
A university course, diploma or degree
An apprenticeship
A graduate training scheme
How long have you been in the industry? 8 years
How did you get into surveying? My interest in Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) was sparked during my time in secondary school. I opted for Maths, Physics, Geography, Environmental Science, and Design & Technology for my A level subjects. This led me to pursue a BSc Hons degree in Surveying and Geomatics, followed by an MSc in Engineering with a specialization in Geomatics. I kickstarted my career as a Junior Surveyor at a Land Surveying company while still in my first year of studies. Following that, I completed an internship at a municipality, gaining exposure to the civil engineering field. Concurrently with my postgraduate studies, I worked as an Engineering Surveyor in training. Eventually, I made the decision to transition to the construction industry, where I currently hold the position of geospatial engineer.
Any associations and organisations you’d like to mention? I am a graduate member of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and I also participate in the UK STEM Ambassadors program.
Why are you volunteering as a Brand Ambassador? Serving as a volunteer, I am confident in my capacity to make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life. By sharing my experiences, talents, and knowledge, I can motivate them to unleash their true potential. Furthermore, this experience will allow me to enhance my transferable skills including interpersonal communication, time management, leadership, delegation, and problem-solving.
Why is GKiS important? The utilisation of surveying techniques plays a crucial role in preventing conflicts between property owners by providing precise and accurate information on property boundaries. It assumes a vital position in the planning and development of new infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. By accurately mapping out the land, surveyors are able to determine the most optimal locations for these structures, taking into account various factors such as the topography of the land, the presence of natural resources, and potential environmental impacts. Additionally, geospatial engineering serves as an essential component in construction projects, as surveyors employ their measurements and data to assist engineers and architects in designing structures that prioritise safety.
What are your Brand Ambassador plans: A range of activities can be arranged, including careers talks, mentoring programs, tutoring sessions, and workshops, among other possibilities.
What are your hobbies outside of work? I am passionate about engaging in various sports activities such as trail running, swimming, and basketball. Additionally, I find joy in singing, dancing, and exploring new destinations through travel.

 

GKiS Educational Materials

For those seeking further information about Get Kids into Survey… please read our introductory blog post below which highlights our main actions for industry:

At GKiS, our primary goal is to ignite a passion for geospatial exploration among the next generation. We believe that fostering this interest early on can lead to a future filled with innovative problem-solvers and experts in the field. That’s why we’re eager to collaborate with anyone who shares our enthusiasm for inspiring future geospatial experts. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of surveying and geospatial sciences.

Our array of resources is designed specifically with young minds in mind, catering to children aged 8-12, a pivotal age for educational development. Accessible globally through our website’s Resources Page, these materials include engaging homework projects that seamlessly integrate surveying concepts with core school subjects, vibrant coloring sheets, informative posters covering various surveying topics, and the thrilling first chapter of the GeoSquad adventures in comic strip form, accompanied by quizzes for interactive learning experiences.

For those seeking deeper engagement, our 44-page Geospatial themed comic book offers an immersive journey with the GeoSquad characters, along with accompanying activities that encourage hands-on exploration. Join Maddison, Miles, Setsuko, and Kwame on an epic adventure to a future devoid of geo surveyors, and discover the importance of their work in shaping the world around us.

Among our most popular resources are our geospatial posters, each showcasing different surveying themes, from Civil Engineering to Environmental Disaster. These posters are complemented by detailed Q&A sheets, providing curious minds with opportunities to delve deeper into the intricacies of surveying. With over 20 options to choose from, educators and mentors can order these posters for free online, contributing to an enriched learning environment.

Our commitment to inspiring future geospatial experts extends beyond resource provision. Through our Brand Ambassador program and the newly launched Brand Ambassador Hub, individuals passionate about outreach and education can join a vibrant community dedicated to spreading awareness about surveying. By signing up as Brand Ambassadors, participants gain access to a plethora of resources, including interactive presentations, practical outreach sessions, engaging cartoons, and printable careers leaflets.

Brand Ambassadors are encouraged to engage with local communities, starting with their child’s school and expanding to larger platforms like careers fairs. These events provide invaluable opportunities for surveyors to showcase their expertise and inspire the next generation. With support from partners like Topcon, we’re continuously expanding our reach, aiming to empower more individuals to become ambassadors of geospatial education.

In our Classroom section, Brand Ambassadors can find ready-to-use resources, such as interactive presentations, practical outreach sessions, and customizable banner graphics, tailored to engage young learners effectively. Additionally, we welcome suggestions for new resource ideas, ensuring that our ambassadors have access to the tools they need to make a lasting impact on future geospatial experts. Join us in our mission to inspire and educate the geospatial leaders of tomorrow.

Character Spotlight ‘BRPELS’

Introducing our latest character to add to the GKiS family… here’s “Bigfoot’s Bio”:

  1. Company Name –

State of Washington, Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors (BRPELS)

  1. Location –

Washington State, Olympia (in the woods, usually!)

  1. Why is it important for your company to help Get Kids into Survey?

Our agency helps grow our profession and promote professional licensing for surveyors.

We help kids who love the outdoors and technology, have fun learning about surveying.

  1. What do you do?

I roam the Northwest woods, searching for missing or buried survey monuments, measuring distances and mapping hills and valleys.

  1. How long have you been in the survey industry?

About five years, but my family has been surveying about 10 million years.

  1. How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry?

I already love the outdoors, math and learning new things. Now, this great technology makes it even more accurate and it’s fun!

  1. State a funny fact about you…

I’m the reigning hide and seek world champion!

(It helps I don’t like getting my picture taken)

  1. Favorite piece of equipment and why?

The data collector because it does the math for me!

  1. Your website:

brpels.wa.gov

  1. How did you choose the character and what does he/she/it represent? Mean to you? What’s his/her name?

Bigfoot represents the Northwest, the outdoors and FUN!

 And Bigfoot’s name?

“Blaze”

(the name was probably the hardest part – it was a group effort)

Ambassador Spotlight ‘Darren Meads’

Introducing Darren Meads from West Yorkshire, UK!

Where did you study? I was taught internally by the company I started out with back in 2015, no knowledge whatsoever, I had served in the Army’s Infantry for 8 years so since 2015 I have been a student to the surveying industry starting with Ground Penetrating Radar to Utility Mapping.

An opportunity in 2016 to become a Land Surveyor which of course I jumped at the chance and have loved it ever since, Learning from mainly my colleagues and line manager it took me roughly about 6 months to really master the basics of surveying and then from this it was time to become a surveyor on my own and learn how to make it my personal way of surveying as every surveyor surveys differently using the same principles of course but making it their own, experimenting trying new ways and pushing the equipment to its full potential is always a great way to learn you don’t always need books or educational courses etc.. I guess it would help yes hugely but some people are more hands on which opens the audience to surveying.

What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area?There are no set requirements per say and this is an important part that I believe needs to be understood. Anyone interested in surveying has the right requirements firstly by showing the voluntary interest, I love to see young people keen and enthusiastic about wanting to become a surveyor. It’s a simple case of you get out what you put in, so these are the only characterises you require to become a great surveyor.

How did you get into surveying? Actually by mistake, my dyslexia played a part in this when I was first searching for a job in 2014/2015 before leaving the Armed Forces, I thought I was going for a job in Surveillance when indeed I arrived for the interview he said “so what do you know about surveying” so I had applied for the job by pure mistake but looking back I guess it was supposed to happen because I got the job, same day, and have loved the surveying industry ever since… Fate.

*If you are not a surveyor, what do you do? I am no longer a surveyor, I work for Hexagon AB, under Bricsys part of Hexagon supplying the UK & Ireland with CAD software BricsCAD to help them be creative in the design space.

How long have you been in the industry? Since 2015, I have learnt some amazing things, it’s taken me to some great places across the UK, which to explore the UK as a surveyor has been an experience and met some fantastic people along the way which are lifetime friends.

Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention? I am a member of the CMI as a Chartered Manager (Chartered Institute of Managers) and a Technical Member to the CICES (Chartered institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors).

Why are you volunteering as a GKiS Brand Ambassador?Simply, I want to help educate young students and older generations the importance of surveying and how it can help shape your life into becoming a great part of today’s society and Get Kids into Surveying is a great way of sharing this passion, it’s a great platform to make a start on having an impact on becoming better.

Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial?

industry? Because this is our future generation of building Infrastructure our build it better generation, the future of surveying depends on educating kids on what part and the importance to which surveying plays in our infrastructure without this we wouldn’t have a lot of the infrastructure we have today, with innovation going the way it’s going in surveying, its becoming more trendy and digital which is highly impressive and could help attract kids into surveying and equally be more sustainable while doing so.

What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? As Country Manager for the UK & Ireland, my goal is to reach as many educational organisations and support them with data management in a digital form in the design space, help support the geospatial data sets to understand how their data can be used but equally support them on the processing side of things by providing them with the relevant software’s, and of course point them in the right direction for further support within GKiS.

What are your hobbies outside of work? I love to spend time outdoors as much as I can with my family, walks on the beach, hills, mountains anything that involves nature… equally I love to learn more about technology and innovations that can help support us become more sustainable.

If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be?We would be an Astronaut, rocketing the digital space into outer space.

What resource would you like to see next from GKiS? More offerings into the design space, processing space, its great to see so much around collecting data but it’s great to also see and understand the bigger picture with the data that’s been collected.

Anything else you want to add that you think our audience (surveyors, teachers, parents) would be interested in? Design helps drive creativity, creativity helps drive motivation, motivation drives creativity = Positive outcomes.

Ambassador Spotlight ‘Jay Shakespeare’

Introducing our latest Brand Ambassador Jay Shakespeare who is covering the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire areas of the UK!

Where did you study? University of East London (UEL)
How long have you been in the industry? 24 Years
How did you get into surveying? Couldn’t decide what career I wanted and found surveying offered an opportunity to travel the countryside with a mix of fieldwork and office time.
What do you do? I’m the Director of MK Surveys
Any associations and organisations you’d like to mention? The Survey Association (TSA)
Why are you volunteering as a Brand Ambassador? Surveying is a great career that isn’t supported enough within schools and colleges. i find it very easy to talk about my job.
What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? Looking to work with the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) to make more kids aware of surveying as a career
What are your hobbies? Martial Arts and anything outdoors with my family

Ambassador Spotlight ‘Kyle Reiner’

Introducing our latest Brand Ambassador Kyle Reiner from Dallas area in Texas, USA:

Where did you study? Santiago Canyon College
What are the requirements to be a Surveyor in your area: Years of experience, an Associates degree. Pass the FS exam, the PS exam and the TSSE exam,
How long have you been in the industry? 14 years
How did you get into surveying? I needed a job and I ended up really loving it so I stayed.
Any associations and organisations you’d like to mention: I am apart of TSPS Chapter 5. I am a 2 year director at the moment.
Why are you volunteering as a Brand Ambassador? I am volunteering because there is nowhere near enough exposure to Surveying for kids to see. Other than seeing it live out in their communities.
Why is GKiS important? I really want to help the younger generation learn about surveying and why it is an essential career for America. It’s a timeless career and we need more Surveyors now more then ever.
What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador: I would like do events, presentations and hands on activities in the local communities, such as schools, Public Libraries or/and Town Hall.
What are your hobbies outside of work? My family are my hobbies. I put all my extra time to them and my faith
If you could have a GKiS character what would it be: I’m not sure. Maybe a person with a cowboy hat looking through an instrument or looking at an ancient document.
GKiS resources that you’d like to see: Some type of kid hands on experience. Maybe that’s scanning a person so they can take that data home for the computer. We have so many cool toys, I’m sure we can figure something out.
Anything else you’d like to mention? The career is a solid career. it pays well and pays really well in certain areas. There is more opportunity in Surveying to own your own Business as well.

Ambassador Spotlight ‘Suzana Sormaz’

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Suzana Sormaz from Serbia:

Which Brand Ambassador (BA) area do you cover: Serbia (all cities)
Where did you study? University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Geodesy and geoinformatics
Requirements to be a Surveyor in your area? It depends on what you want to do. If you want to have your own company, you need license,..
How long have you been in the industry? Almost 13 years (from my 15 years)
How did you get into surveying? Well, when I was young (13 years old), I liked my uncle’s maps (he is surveyor). And in that age, I already knew that one day I will be surveyor. 🙂
Any associations and organisations you’d like to mention? In this moment, unfortunately, no.
Why are you volunteering as a BA? Because I am every day in touch with kids (15-19 years old) and I try to always find new ways to represent Geodesy as best as I could. I love to see when they like what they do.
Why is GKiS important? Because it’s the most beautiful profession on the world. It’s nice to know that you can be part of measures the World and you can research World cross this profession.
What are your plans as a BA? I would like to use your poster, games, represent to kids all interesting things you do, make some quiz with them, there are a lot of interesting ideas.
What are your hobbies? I like to ride roller skates and bike, love to visit new place, read book or podcast, listen to music. I am also creative person and in love with design, so I have my on little business (personal greeting card)