My Park Story: Elise Chan

Elise stands near the Colorado River.

NPS/ Elise Chan

What was your pathway to the National Park Service (NPS)

I grew up in Seattle, Washington but I attend college in Vermont. I study geology and geography and hope to pursue a career with a federal land management agency. This is my first position with NPS, as an intern through the Mosaics in Science program.

What interested you in the National Park Service?

The parks (especially those here in the Southwest) are some of the few places where everyone appreciates geology regardless of having a background in the field because of how incredible the rock formations are here! I love seeing people get excited about geology in response to the landscape they are in. I want my work to be relevant to the general public and not just in the academia space, and I think NPS is as a bridge between science and people. I also haven’t lived in the Southwest before, so working at Glen Canyon was a great opportunity to be somewhere new.

What do you do at Glen Canyon?

I am the photogrammetry intern for Archeology. My main project is using photogrammetry to monitor erosion at archeological sites along the Colorado River, in particular seeing how the high flow releases from the dam affect erosion and/or deposition of sediment at these sites. Photogrammetry is the science (or art) of combining images together into 3D models. Photos of several archaeological sites have been collected over the past five years, so comparing these images reveals how the sites are changing over time. My job involves both collecting new data and analyzing existing data.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

In my project, I get to be a part of each step of the process of collecting, processing, and analyzing the data. As an undergrad, I am often only involved in one of these steps of a project, so it’s cool to complete the analysis from start to finish and see how each step informs the others. It is also rewarding to contribute to a long-term project that started before I got here and will continue after I leave.

What advice do you have for youth and young adults thinking about a career at NPS?

For other students interested in working for NPS, I think internship programs such as Mosaics or Scientists in the Parks are great ways to get a taste of working for NPS. Last summer, I had a similar internship with the USFS through the GeoCorps America program. These programs, all aimed towards students and recent graduates, are great ways to gain field experience, explore possible career paths, and meet people working in your field.

Do you remember the first park you visited?

The first park I visited was Olympic National Park in Washington when I was a little kid. I remember driving up to Hurricane Ridge, and the fog was so thick that I couldn’t see my outstretched hand! I have returned to the park a few times since then and regardless of the season, I have yet to experience a clear day there.