Whether you use Apple Maps, Google Maps, MapQuest, or a good old-fashioned paper map, we can all agree that we’d be lost without them. But maps can do much more than just help you get from point A to point B. This SIYP, we’ll be diving into how maps can be powerful interpretive programming tools.

Our intern Brigitte will be showcasing a brand-new guide to making natural-color maps from NASA’s Landsat Mission images. You can expect a lively discussion on what we love about maps, how we use them, and how they may shape your next program. Take a look at some of the ETS regional team maps made from Landsat images!

If you want to make a map alongside Brigitte during the presentation, you will need to do a few things ahead of time:

1. Download QGIS and GIMP, which are two free open-source software applications.
2. Download the raw images that will be used in the tutorial.

Brigitte Montminy is a Climate Interpretation Intern who has been working with Earth to Sky since August. With a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics and a Master’s degree in Climate & Society from the Columbia Climate School, she is a science nerd with a specific love for maps. From mapping Jupiter’s polar clouds to Earth’s beauties, Brigitte is a fan of all types of maps. She is also currently working as a Climate Media Specialist at The YEARS Project, putting out a weekly newsletter and action toolkit (check it out at itm.earth).