Kate Grala

Title: Research Associate III
Time at GRI/NGI: Since 2020
Hometown: Zambrow, Poland

Q: What is your academic background?
I am a landscape architect with a background in GIS, geospatial education, as well as natural and cultural resources management.

Q: What are your research interests?
I’m interested in online mapmaking, visualization of geospatial data, and designing geospatial applications. I also have experience in regional vulnerability assessments, multi-criteria suitability studies, and raster-based analyses of geospatial patterns.

Q: Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
The person who inspired me the most was my high school art teacher. Even though that was decades ago, and he was unfamiliar with geospatial technologies, many of his suggestions resonate with me today when I design maps or make online apps. He encouraged me to trust my intuition in organizing and presenting information. I learned from him how to think about composition, use fonts and color, experiment with proportions, and most of all, discovered how to solve graphic problems and transfer a rough idea into an actual design.

Q: What has been your favorite project while working at GRI?
By far, my favorite project was designing the MSU campus map. This was a collaborative effort, and I am proud to be part of the group that worked on this interactive application.

Q: What is the coolest thing you are working on right now?
Currently, I am working on designing way-finding maps for the MSU campus. This is the next stage of the campus map design project, but instead of an interactive digital map, I am designing a series of hard-copy maps that will be part of way-finding signs positioned in strategic locations around campus.

Q: What is working at GRI like?
GRI offers a rewarding and growth-supporting work environment. I’ve had an opportunity to collaborate with scientists from numerous disciplines, including coastal science, architecture, hydrology, geology, forestry, and wildlife. Engaging in various projects is always exciting. It allows me to learn new technologies and expand my geospatial skill set.

Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
I consider myself a skilled mushroom hunter. I can easily identify many different wild mushroom species and know which ones are best for cooking.

Q: What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
I have a tendency to change my interests and hobbies frequently. Not too long ago, I was baking different types of bread, making pastel drawings, designing logos, and making plaster sculptures. However, my love for audiobooks and passion for watching tennis have never faded.