Postcards from the Field: Andrew Sommerville

Shell Conservation Intern Andrew Sommerville

Hi everyone,

I’ve been enjoying an incredible second summer as a Shell Conservation Intern. It is a great privilege to continue developing extensive experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis by assisting the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) science and conservation planning department in the Alberta Region. 

My work has involved performing spatial analyses of ecological data and creating support maps for several Natural Area Conservation Plans. These plans are critical to NCC’s operations as they are used to determine biodiversity targets and the presence of threats in areas of ecological significance. The process helps to identify the location of areas of high conservation value, which enables us to map NCC’s priorities for land protection purposes.

Castle Crown Natural Area, Alberta

This internship has also provided me with the privilege to visit natural areas and get a true sense of the ecological landscape in the field. Not only are we able to confirm digital data with real-world occurrences, but I have also been fortunate enough to learn about the intricacies of natural systems through the first-hand explanation of local experts.

As a recent graduate from the University of Lethbridge with a degree in environmental science, this is a worthwhile chance for me to broaden both my skills and experience in conservation science. I am very thankful to be part of the NCC team and to be able to contribute to the protection of beautiful and unique ecosystems in Alberta. I am especially thankful that this opportunity has been made possible because of Shell Canada’s ongoing generosity and support of NCC through the Shell Conservation Internship Program.

Andrew Sommerville