From local landscapes to global systems, Geography students examine how people, place and environment intersect through applied, hands-on work.
In GEOG 490, Senior Research or Field Practicum, students partner with a faculty advisor to complete a culminating experience tailored to their interests. This may take the form of an independent research project, internship or study abroad program. Along the way, they refine their research, analyze data and produce key deliverables.
This experience emphasizes practical application, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with real-world issues across environmental and human geography.
The CISE Showcase, held in April, highlights this work as students share their process and outcomes with faculty, peers and the broader community.
Below is a featured Geography capstone project that demonstrates the depth of inquiry and applied learning within the program.
STUDENT: Savannah Walker
ADVISOR: Dr. Xiaojing Tang
SPONSOR: NASA
White roofs are among the most common ways to mitigate the impact of global warming and urban heat island effects. However, the spatial variability in their cooling effectiveness across cities and within neighborhoods is not well understood.
White roof implementation typically occurs at small scales, such as individual buildings or part of redevelopment projects that do not result in categorical changes in the land cover and land use. This makes detection using remote sensing data challenging.
This project uses time-series Landsat data to identify newly installed white roofs across Boston over the past 12 years. It assesses the cooling effectiveness using thermal remote sensing data from Landsat TIRS.
The research provides valuable information to help city planners better prepare for climate change and achieve their climate goals.
