AiLi Pigott (MS '25), who specialized in Geospatial Data Sciences at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), says she chose SEAS because of its interdisciplinary approach, diverse subject matter and practical applications. She says it's the shared commitment toward and passion for the environment that truly defines SEAS and makes it such a special place.

We asked her five questions to learn more about her experience at SEAS and her plans for the future. 

What is your background?

I received my BA in environmental science from Colorado College, where I gained research experience in landscape ecology, using spatial software to study landscape metrics associated with owl habitats in Colorado. Additionally, during my undergraduate studies, I conducted fieldwork in Arctic Sweden, applying remote sensing techniques to analyze flora composition shifts from permafrost thaw caused by climate change.

Why SEAS?

I have always been a big picture thinker, curious about large temporal and spatial landscape processes. My introduction to the field of geoinformatics during my undergraduate studies only sparked my curiosity. GIS is a powerful tool, and I became drawn to its interdisciplinary approach, diverse subject matter, and practical applications. I chose to pursue my master's at SEAS to enhance my skill set while gaining professional experience in applying geospatial techniques to real-world environmental problems.

What has your experience at SEAS been like?

For my master's project, my team, comprised of five other SEAS students, is partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy Michigan, and the U-M Water Center to develop actionable policy recommendations for the state of Michigan to integrate into the Michigan the Beautiful initiative. As the spatial analyst, my role has involved mapping existing areas of protection in Michigan's Great Lakes and conducting a proximity analysis on where these areas could be expanded. Additionally, I've been tasked to create an ArcGIS StoryMap to summarize and present our report's findings to a non-academic audience. As someone with no background in environmental policy, it's been a humbling experience learning from my peers who have a deeper understanding of this field.

I honestly struggled to find a sense of community during my first year at SEAS, especially within the GDS track. I only knew other first-year GDS students from taking classes together, but our interactions wouldn’t extend beyond the classroom. Thus, I intentionally pursued a leadership position as a GDS co-track leader. This year, my co-leader, Sean Skinner, and I have been sending out a monthly newsletter featuring a GDS faculty member and two current GDS students. We also aim to organize two social events each month to build connections and strengthen relationships between first and second-year students. My role as GDS co-track leader has taught me the importance of building community by facilitating connections between faculty, first-year students, and second-year students while also reinforcing the importance of creating inclusive spaces for others to feel a sense of belonging.

Outside of SEAS, I’ve taken advantage of some of the opportunities the university has to pursue my interests. I received a U-M mini library grant to create a collaborative cookbook with U-M Asian American adoptees, submitted a piece of non-fiction to the U-M Hopwood Creative Writing Program and placed as a finalist, and participated in intramural sports. Outside of campus, I’ve met the community of talented Ann Arbor artists through selling my glass mosaics at the Sunday Artisan Market in Kerrytown.

Would you recommend SEAS to incoming students?

From the beginning, meeting students during orientation at the Biostation, it felt like everyone around me had a niche “thing” they were passionate about. At first, I was intimidated, as I didn’t have that same sense of direction, but I’ve since learned to use this as an opportunity to learn from my peers. Grad school is the perfect time to ask questions, listen to others, and get excited about what excites them. Ultimately, it’s the people who make SEAS what it is. It's that shared commitment towards and passion for the environment that truly defines SEAS, and it’s what makes it such a special place.

What will you do next?

I plan to move back home to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I hope to find a job that will utilize my GIS, data visualization and science communication skills.