Meet Our Summer Interns: Jon Witter
Today we’re introducing you to our next summer intern — Jon Witter!
Jon is currently attending his senior year at Bowling Green State University, where he is majoring in Environmental Science with a specialization in Geospatial Analysis. His interest in the environmental field began in high school, when an agriculture class first introduced him to the possibility of working in conservation. Once he reached college and learned more about the environmental challenges facing our world, that interest only grew stronger.
Today, Jon hopes to build a career in conservation focused on remote sensing or Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He is especially interested in examining the raw data behind environmental issues and conservation monitoring, understanding what it can tell us, and using it to make a positive impact.
During his time at Black Swamp Conservancy, Jon has worked hard to manage the native gardens at our Homestead property while continuing to learn and build his skills. His interest in data and technology gave him another perspective on the work we do and the places we protect, as he also spent much of the summer reviewing raw data from bird calls captured on our Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). This data helps us understand the bird species and populations we see on our protected properties, and it is an important tool for monitoring and understanding our wildlife populations.
What drew him to Black Swamp was our commitment to preserving, conserving, and restoring the Great Black Swamp region. To Jon, this landscape’s uniqueness and importance make it worth protecting.
When he’s not studying or working in the field, Jon enjoys spending time outdoors as an avid birdwatcher. He also loves science and history, reading nonfiction when he’s in the mood, and playing video games.
Whether he’s identifying birds, studying environmental data, or learning more about the landscapes around him, Jon approaches the world with curiosity. We are excited to see how that curiosity continues to shape his path in conservation.
We are thrilled to have had Jon on our summer crew this year, which was made possible this year in through a scholarship granted by the Perrysburg Garden Country Club. We look forward to the contributions he will undoubtedly make to science in his career. We wish him the best as he pursues his goal of using science, technology, and conservation to make a positive impact.
Thank you for being a part of our team, Jon!