It was a summer of learning and discovery for College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS) students Samiha Nuzhat and Sobia Shah. 

They participated in a week-long summer school from Aug. 5-9 in Boulder, Colorado. The fully funded program was hosted by the National Science Foundation’s Institute for Geospatial Understanding through an Integrative Discovery Environment (I-GUIDE).   

This year’s theme for the program was “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Sustainability.”  

The students learned more about the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in geospatial science. They also explored how AI tools can impact impending climate changes.  

Nuzhat and Shah were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants nationally. They had to undergo a rigorous selection process, which included highlighting their previous, current and future research work. Only about 30-35 students nationwide are accepted and invited to attend.  

Nuzhat 

Nuzhat is a graduate student in the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability (SEES), pursuing a master’s degree in geography.  

“After looking at those who were selected for previous years, I was nervous because the majority of attendees were in their postdoc or final year of doctoral studies,” Nuzhat said. “I was beyond grateful to find out I was invited to attend.” 

Originally from Chattogram, Bangladesh, she received her undergraduate degree from Asian University for Women in 2023. She then started her graduate journey at MSU in fall 2023.  

Nuzhat’s research interest is in climate change adaptation. She is currently studying marginalization in the decision-making process. The summer program gave her the perfect opportunity to learn more from experts in the field.  

“Hearing about the projects other students and experts are working on in their respective universities gave me a lot of ideas for the current research work happening in my field,” Nuzhat said. “I was introduced to many new tools that will allow me to undertake advanced research in geography and environmental sustainability.” 

When she graduates in spring 2025, she plans to pursue her doctorate degree. This will prepare her for a career in human geography research at an academic institution. 

Shah 

Shah is also a graduate student in the SEES, pursuing her second master’s degree in sustainability. She grew up in Hunza, Pakistan, where she obtained her first master’s degree in development studies at the National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad. 

After completing her degree in 2022, she moved to Springfield to attend MSU. Once she receives her degree, she plans to work as a geographic information systems analyst.  

According to Shah, the summer program’s alignment with her research interest in environmental sustainability drew her to it. Prior to starting the program, she went back to Pakistan to conduct research on the melting glaciers in the area due to climate change. She hopes to incorporate the new knowledge she has gained about AI into her current research.  

“The melting of these glaciers is causing problems for people in the area,” Shah said. “My study focuses on what people can do about the flooding and explores adaptation strategies.” 

At the summer school, Shah was most excited about seeing how AI adoption in climate change strategies can shape the future.   

“What I didn’t expect was the level of interdisciplinary collaboration and the innovative applications of AI in geospatial research that go beyond traditional environmental science,” Shah said. “The integration of machine learning with spatial datasets opened up new possibilities for predictive modeling, which could be crucial for disaster preparedness and response.” 

Moving forward, Shah anticipates the knowledge and connections she gained from this program will play a pivotal role in her future work, particularly in developing more sophisticated approaches to analyzing and addressing environmental and social impacts.