New Light Technologies (NLT) understands that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful tools — but not everyone knows the technology even exists. NLT staff participated in a Career Day for high school students at The Lab School in Washington, DC, showing off all the amazing things GIS can do, hoping to inspire students to consider a career that uses the technology.
"For students with learning differences, events like Career Day are pivotal in helping them envision a future where they can find fascinating, fulfilling professions that value neuro-diversity," said The Lab School's Director of Events and Alumni Engagement.
The event's focus was to inspire students to explore careers they might not have known about, or assumed might not be good fits for their learning differences. An NLT GIS Specialist was among a cohort of successful professionals from a wide array of industries — architects, event planners, filmmakers — who sat with small rotating groups totaling approximately 60 students to discuss the career choices that await them.
The students heard about the company's work making disaster-response maps for clients such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); its work in remote sensing analysis of satellite imagery; and its development of innovative tools to better visualize and understand the world.
"A couple of students came up afterward and told me they appreciated hearing the story of my career. My path to working in GIS and at New Light Technologies was full of twists and turns — I was actively making my own map in real time while traveling the course. It was almost serendipity that I found a career in cartography and spatial analysis," said the NLT GIS Specialist, "because now I get to help make maps for other people, too. Those students were excited mainly because they didn't know this route was even an option."
The Lab School is a K-12 school offering multi-sensory and experiential programs to accommodate different learning styles and strengths. It tailors its educational programs for students with language-based learning differences and is regarded as one of the best schools for children with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences.
About The Lab School
The Lab School of Washington is an innovative learning community fostering scholarship and creativity in students with language-based learning differences. In an environment of inquiry and hands-on exploration, Lab School students learn to advocate for themselves as they become engaged and compassionate members of a global society. For 50 years, it has provided an exceptional, college-preparatory academic experience for students (grades 1–12) with ADHD, dyslexia, and other language-based learning differences through an innovative, arts-centered, experiential, multi-sensory curriculum.
About New Light Technologies
New Light Technologies (NLT) is a Washington, DC-based firm with 25+ years of experience delivering:
- Geospatial systems and enterprise GIS
- Cloud-native data platforms
- AI/ML and advanced analytics
- DevSecOps and cybersecurity solutions
NLT supports federal, state, and international organizations in operationalizing data for mission impact.