Interests


My interests began in GIScience when I saw the broad applications and unique communication abilities of geovisualization. I am passionate about open science and favor open source technology.
I believe open science goes in tandem with community science and making science as a discpline and science communciation accessible.

My interests in climate change are related to my personal philosphy of love and respect of nature, animals and other people. Climate change is already impacts peoples across the globe, the impacts disproportiantely impact marginalized communities. Using geovisualization to understand climate change impacts and adaptation impacts I hope to highlight geographic areas that need investment to face these impacts. Additionally, I seek to make this knowledge easily accessible through an web application focused on user experience.
I believe political ecology, critical physcial geography, and more than human geographies can be employed as frameworks for understanding climate change while framing environmental justice.


    Research Interests

  • Geovisualization
  • Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)
  • GIScience
  • Internet Mapping
  • Web Development
  • Science Communication
  • Climate Change
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Nature-based Solutions
  • More than Human Geographies
  • Political Ecology
  • Critical Physical Geography

Curriculum Vitae

Katie Slack

Personal Statement

My desired long-term professional goals are to create data-driven geographic models that inform policymakers and stakeholders to mitigate climate-change related adversity. I am interested in the social threats of climate change which disproportionately affects marginalized people. Additionally, I want to use visualize the impacts of different climate change adaptation techniquese. GIScience technology, empowered with geovisualization and AI, is invaluable to help people adapt as the Earth’s climate changes.


Education

University of New Mexico
Bachelors of Science in Anthropology, Concentration in Archaeology & Minor in Geographic Information Science(GIS)
2021-2022

Central New Mexico Community College
Associates of Arts in Anthropology
2020-2021

University of North Texas
2014-2017


Publications

Sarigai, S., Yang, L., Slack, K., Lane, K. M. D., Buenemann, M., Wu, Q., Woodhull, G. & Driscol, J. (2024). idwMapper: An interactive and data-driven web mapping framework for visualizing and sensing high-dimensional geospatial (big) data. arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.11001.

    Currently under review. Read the pre-publication version of our paper here.


Research Experience

Current Research

  • Member of the GeoAIR Lab (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence Research and Visualization Laboratory) directed by Dr. Liping Yang. Learn more about the lab here.
    • Currently working on multiple projects about Geovisualiztion, GeoAI and Climate Change.
    • Logo design and creation relevant to projected I worked on and/or relevant to the GeoAIR lab.

Past research
Fall 2022:

  • Created a housing suitability analysis for public housing in the city of Albuquerque
    • Formatted the suitability analysis as a multi-criteria decision analysis.
    • Calculated using the Weighted Linear Combination Method.
    • Model’s variables were economic opportunity, proximity to public transportation, and proximity to schools.
    • Produced a formal map, research paper, and video presentation.
    • Project for Dr. Yan Lin’s Spatial Modeling 400/500 course at UNM.
  • Programmed a custom ArcGIS toolbox to create a stream network from a Digital Elevation Model.
    • Customized two python script tools.
    • Outputs a map document in ArcGIS with a background of aerial imagery and a layer of the automated stream network.
    • Exports portable network graphic file into a folder chosen by the user as secondary output.
    • Produced a formal map, customized ArcGIS Toolbox, research paper, and video presentation.
    • Project for Dr. Xi Gong’s GIS Programming 400/500 course at UNM.
Summer 2022:
  • Participated in the UNM 2022 Southwestern Field School for Archaeology.
    • Gained experience in archaeological survey and archaeological site recording.
    • Learned how to identify artifacts both in a field and laboratory setting.
    • Mapped archaeological sites.
    • Analyzed lithic, ceramic, and faunal artifacts in the lab.
    • Led by Dr. Hannah Mattson in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Dr. Kari Schleher of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at UNM.
Spring 2022:
  • Led a team that designed and developed an interactive web map.
    • See here for the interactive web app, which is the final project for Dr. Liping Yang’s Internet Mapping 400/500 course at UNM.
    • The web map shows the change in riparian vegetation over time along the Rio Grande Corridor.
    • The web app was implemented in JavaScript (along with HTML and CSS), I had no previous programming experience.
    • User interface allows viewers to view 15 years of riparian vegetation and precipitation.
Fall 2022:
  • Spatial Analysis of archaeological fields potential productivity for dryland farming.
    • Analyzed aerial imagery to locate the fields in Central New Mexico.
    • Digitally mapped archaeological fields.
    • Ran hydrological modeling, ending with watersheds of ephemeral streams (arroyos) along the fields.
    • Created three hillshade layers to see the potential sunlight in the midmorning, noon, and midafternoon.
2017:
  • Gained community input from the town of Denton, Texas for the city’s 2030 plan.
    • Observed a neighborhood study area in Denton, Texas.
    • Co-wrote and distributed surveys to community members in the study area.
    • Interviewed community members for input on the city’s priorities.
    • Co-wrote a report on and presented its findings to the city of Denton.
    • Added the perspective of unhoused people to the class's analysis.
    • Project for UNT’s Anthropology Field Methods course led by Dr. Andrew Nelson.
2014:
  • Participated in community engagement research.
    • Partnered with Opening Doors International Services (ODIS) a nonprofit organization in Denton, Texas.
    • Established communities baseline knowledge on human trafficking in anticipation of an awareness campaign by ODIS.
    • Conducted surveys and interviews with community stakeholders.
    • Co-wrote and presented a report to ODIS.
    • Project led by Dr. Mariela Nuñez-Janes for UNT’s Community-Engagement Research course.


Awards & Honors

  • Recipient of the 2022-2023 Cheryl L. Wase Scholarship from the Society of American Archaeology
  • Graduated Summa Cum Laude from UNM
  • UNM Dean’s List: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
  • Graduated Magna Cuma Laude from CNM
  • Graduated with honors from CNM
  • CNM Dean’s List: Fall 2020, Spring 2021

Work Experience

2018 - 2020 Maison Blanche Paint Company/ Annie LeFluer Companies

Project Manager, Executive Assistant

  • Managed and updated the companies’ multiple websites.
  • Updated website design.
  • Reworked shipping program and inventory tracking systems.
  • Assisted company owner in day-to-day tasks.
  • Handled customer service in person, over the phone, and through email.
  • Managed social media accounts.
2017 - 2018 Rusty Taco

Assistant General Manager, Shift Lead, Cashier

  • Gained two promotions within a year and a half at Rusty Taco.
  • Appointed Training Manager.
  • Managed all aspects of the shift including delegation of work to employees.
  • Resolved issues with unhappy customers.
  • Assisted General Manger with ideas, organization, and scheduling.
  • Created a positive atmosphere and open work environment for team members and customers.

Skills

GIScience

  • Internet Mapping: Leaflet, D3.js, Dc.js, crossfilter.js
  • QGIS
  • ArcGIS: Model Builder, ArcPy
  • Google Earth Engine: geemap
  • Contour line mapping
  • Analyzing satellite imagery

Programming Languages

  • JavaScript, and multuiple JS libraries
  • Python, and multiple py libraries
  • R

Web Development

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

General

  • Management / Leadership
  • Problem solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Microsoft suite of products
  • Stratigraphic mapping
  • Soil horizon mapping

Communication

  • Writing
  • Public speaking

Visual Arts

  • Inkscape
  • Painting, watercolor and acrylic
  • Icon design
  • Ink drawing
  • Collage