Kristina McAvoy
Hometown: Brockton, Massachusetts
Program: MA in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Sciences
Why did you choose to come to BU for your graduate degree?
Boston University checked all the right boxes when it came to looking for a graduate program. The faculty and staff were open and welcoming, the research topics were important and interesting, and I was able to easily commute to and from campus. Additionally, the program stood out to me because it combines remotely sensed data with GIS to tackle environmental concerns.
What are your favorite spots on the BU campus and in Boston?
I only had a short time on campus before the pandemic sent us home (a little over a semester and a half); however, the graduate student lounge in CAS as well as the fourth floor computer lab became favorite spots to study or hang out between classes. One of my favorite spots around campus is Tbaar, a small café that sells bubble tea on Beacon street.
What are you involved in on campus or in Boston, aside from your coursework?
Last school year I assisted teaching Earth House, a project-based sustainability course offered to undergraduates directly associated with their residence house. This semester I have been working on the NASA-funded research mission MEaSUREs, working on classifying and mapping global land-cover change.
What is one unique opportunity you have had because of your choice to study at BU?
Getting to work on the NASA-funded research mission MEaSUREs has been a unique experience I have been a part of as a student at BU. I do not believe I would have had this opportunity elsewhere. Subsequently, I have had the opportunity to apply to the NASA DEVELOP program for Spring 2021. The skills and tools that I have learned from my courses and experiences at BU made me comfortable and confident enough in my knowledge to apply to their program and made me a strong candidate for their research projects. This is something I do not believe I could have done outside of BU.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I hope to continue my passion for learning and investigating environmental topics, and I hope to work towards making a real difference in the world. I plan to pursue opportunities in the surrounding Boston community and be a part of addressing some of the city’s environmental concerns