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Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, May 2013
Elizabeth (Libby) Woodford entered the department of earth, environmental and geographical sciences as a Freshman Fellow. She chose to study earth science and quickly revealed her potential as a scholar and a leader. She will graduate in May 2013, having achieved her bachelor's degree in three and a half years. During her time at Northern, she presented research at two professional conferences, served as the president of two EEGS department clubs, received a Spooner student research grant, was awarded the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club scholarship twice and studied volcanoes in Kamchatka, Russia. She excelled in a challenging degree program, earning a 3.88 GPA.
"I feel humble and thankful," she said. "It was wonderful to receive recognition from faculty members I very much respect."
Libby is motivated by her love of science and an interest in learning more about the world. She is exploring various options for graduate school.
Technology Innovation Award, April 2012
Matthew Claucherty
In April 2012, Matthew Claucherty, a GIS major in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences won a Technology Innovation Awards for Students from the Educational Technology and Resource Policy Committee. Congratulations, Matt!
Claucherty’s award winning project was conceived in Professor Robert Legg’s GC 428 Spatial Analysis class. The project uses ArcMap 10 to quantify wilderness foot-travel variables and then calculate a least-cost path between two designated points. The variables include land slope, vegetation density, and presence of water bodies.
Marquette County’s digital elevation model (DEM) was used to create a slope layer. Matt used aerial photos to delineate vegetation density/forest structure. State data for water bodies and wetlands were also included. These factors were combined to generate impedances values (i.e., how greatly a feature impedes foot travel). Open, level areas have low impedance values. Areas with steep slopes and/or dense vegetation have higher impedance values. Water bodies have the highest impedance value because they are not traversable by foot. Using a least-cost path tool Matt's project then mathematically determines point-to-point routes based on impedance values.
