Unlimited Resources = Unlimited Environmental Observation and Protection by Jaymie

Unlimited Resources = Unlimited Environmental Observation and Protection by Jaymie - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a graduate student specializing in data science and engineering, I am passionate about using technology to address real-world problems. Outside of the classroom, I volunteer at Acadia National Park, where I dedicate my time to preserving trails and protecting native vegetation for future generations. With the rise in Maine tourism, the park is facing rapid environmental deterioration enticing me to explore how data can contribute to sustainable solutions.

To better understand this issue, I developed a SQL database using National Park statistics to analyze the impact of increased tourism on both the state economy and the park’s environmental health. My goal was to quantify the trade-offs between economic growth and ecological deterioration.

If I had unlimited time and resources, I would expand this work by building a database that catalogs images and descriptions of the park’s diverse plant life. This system would support environmental surveys at the beginning and end of each tourism season to assess vegetation damage over time. In particular, I would focus on the lack of plant diversity at mountain summits to study erosion patterns and intensity. A better understanding of these patterns would enable volunteers like me to take action, replacing soil, restoring native plants, and restricting access to sensitive areas to allow recovery.

With unlimited support, I would dedicate myself fully to restoring Acadia National Park. Not only would this effort improve the region’s environmental resilience, but it would also protect the economic and environmental state of my new home.