Nicole Colome

Growing up in Florida, USA, Nicole was constantly exposed to nature from a young age, from being surrounded by Everglades National Park to seeing manatees in the park next to her house. Her curiosity about these wonderful and mysterious surroundings grew over time into a passion that demanded to be pursued, along with a particular interest in African wildlife and the diversity of both the ecosystems and the species within them.

She chose to study biology as an undergraduate at Florida State University to better understand science as a whole, as well as to learn how she could build a career from her interests in nature and wildlife. After graduating, Nicole chose to broaden her research skills by working for a large biotechnology company, where she gained valuable experience in laboratory research, data analysis, and the commercial side of science. Throughout this time, her interest in wildlife and conservation only grew. She continued to seek opportunities to ethically observe and learn from natural systems, and eventually she realized that what began as an interest had become a true drive to protect species and the environments that support them.

As she looked ahead to pursuing this goal, Nicole wanted to contribute to conservation research using modern tools and technology. She began her GIS journey by teaching herself QGIS and in so doing discovered a passion for geographic information systems as a way to transform data and research into visual tools that can be understood by a wide audience. She later completed graduate-level GIS coursework at Pennsylvania State University, developing strong skills in ArcGIS and spatial analysis, and gaining a deeper understanding of how mapping can support conservation efforts and shape public perception.

Determined to apply these skills in one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, Nicole chose to pursue her MSc in Conservation Biology in South Africa, where she looks forward to combining fieldwork, GIS, and conservation science to support sustainable solutions for habitat protection, wildlife management, and human wildlife coexistence.

She is especially interested in how conservation science and spatial data can be used to support sustainable ecotourism models that protect biodiversity while also benefiting local communities.