Application for GISciences Ph.D. Program, 2008 Fernando Mendoza JaraUniversity of Texas at Dallas

Statement of Purpose

This statement of purpose is in regards to the Ph.D. Program in Geospatial Information Sciences at UTD, where I would like to be considered for this program as a full-time student and/or Research Assistant (RA).

My relationship with the environment has been one of the most pleasant things that have happened to me. My career’s goal is to become a scientist researcher and to exploit the tools of Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) for the benefic of Natural Resources in Nicaragua. GIS and RS have been now established as a common feature for management and research in areas such as; natural hazard and disaster, watershed management, mapping and classification of forest, study of biodiversity and soil resources mapping. I want to equip myself with the knowledge for the application of these research tools to make decision, modeling and simulation of natural events; principally in the hazard risk management, fire management using Remote Sensing, and forest mapping.

Even though the lack of knowledge and experience in the GIS and RS field in Nicaragua, a growing number of institutions in Nicaragua are recognizing GIS and RS as an integral part of their job and these technologies are continuously increasing their applications across a broad array on the Natural Resources. As a first example, National Agrarian University of Nicaragua (UNA) is developing a Geographic Information System Laboratory for Environmental Monitoring (SIGMA) to apply GIS and RS tools for researches about precision farming, land use, hydrographic watershed management and soil management. In addition, UNA is offering a Post grade in Hydrographic watershed management, Soil Management and GIS and RS for management of the Natural Resources. For all the former facts presented, it is necessary to include GIS and RS in all the post grades courses, which are offered by UNA.

My interest in GIS and RS came to me through the Geographic Institute “Agustin Codazzi” in Colombia in 2002, where I did my specialization in GIS supported by Inter-American Development Bank Scholarship. In this specialization, I developed the thesis called “Integration of GIS and Digital Terrain Modeling to predict present and potential Water Erosion in a district of irrigation projected in zones of slope”, this study was awarded with a “Meritorious”. Herein, I became acquainted with the use of GIS and RS tools for the analysis of spatial data for the planning and management.

After graduating in 1999 at UNA as Forestry Engineering, I began to teach at the “Faculty of Natural Resources and the Environment” at UNA. I have better understood the importance of having a good education. Being able to share my knowledge with not only my students but also other

Julio, 2008 email: fjm061000@utdallas.edu

Application for GISciences Ph.D. Program, 2008 Fernando Mendoza JaraUniversity of Texas at Dallas

colleagues and at the same time I believe that it is something directly translated as a real benefit to the community in which I work and my country.

Throughout my school and under graduate education, I have been a good student. e.g., I was the winner of the third place in the Mathematic Olympic at the National level in 1993 and I was the “Summa cum laude Student” in my major at UNA in 1999. After the Dissertation of my major thesis called "Analysis of the sensitivity of the life’s zones of Holdridge based on the climatic change for Nicaragua", this was published in Central American Forestry Magazine in March 2001.

On a professional level, one of my proud achievements was a Fulbright Scholarship granted in 2006 to study the GIS Master Program in this prestigious institution, where currently I am a GIS program student and I have obtained 4.0 GPA after three semesters. Three semesters that have contributed a huge experience and knowledge not only in GIS but also in Remote Sensing, Spatial Analyst, and Programming for GIS. Moreover, I am also comfortable to be a student in this institution where I am completely sure about the excellent knowledge, experience, and professionalism of all the GIS staff at this institution.

I will be able to meet the needs of this prestigious university, as I have experience working in teamwork capacities, on research projects, in coordinating the logistics of conferences and workshops as well as in advocacy. Many of the studies that I have been involved are; “Economic Valoration of Environmental Services,” “Study of Vulnerability in view of earth sliding in the watershed,” “Estimation of risk of water erosion in the sub basin of River Dipilto,” and “Management Plan of Biological Reserve “Indio – Maíz, Río San Juan, Nicaragua”. I am also comfortable in intercultural settings where communicating with people from different life and cultural backgrounds is important and necessary.

On a more personal note, I have been a keen participant in extra-curricular activities. I have actively been involved in religious community and sports performances; I have been member of baseball, football, hiking, and camping teams in many occasions. I am against to cruelty to animals and I have a strong feeling for the cause of nature.

My deep fascination with the GIS and Remote Sensing field exhibits itself my interest for the world surrounds me. I do hope that with this statement of purpose I fulfill the requirements of this excellent Ph.D. Program. I would welcome the opportunity to study for your institution and welcome the chance to contribute my energy, commitment and experience to this program. I thank you for your time and attention to it and to the Ph.D. Program in Geospatial Information Sciences to give me the chance to apply.

Julio, 2008 email: fjm061000@utdallas.edu