
Aaron hiking Volcan Pacaya in Guatemala
This month's spotlight stays on our excellent GEOS undergraduates, this time featuring Aaron Pacheco. Aaron is a junior dual degree student concentrating in environmental geosciences, who's already been active in undergraduate research and campus sustainability initiatives. Learn more about Aaron's experiences in the department and his plans for the future in our Q&A below!
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Georgia but I lived for a few years in Mexico, so I would consider both places as home!
Where did you go to school before coming to GSU?
I graduated from Villa Rica High School in 2021 while also taking some dual enrollment courses at the University of West Georgia!
What year in school are you? / How long have you been a student at GSU?
I started at GSU in Fall 2021 and plan to graduate in Fall 2024!
What’s your major/concentration?
I’m completing a B.S. in Geosciences with a concentration in Environmental Geosciences. I’m also working towards the GIS Certificate and participating in the Dual Degree program.
Which class has been your favorite to take in the Department of Geosciences?
Hands down, it has to be Digital Cartography with Dr. Shelton. It was super fun being able to be creative with each lab, especially with the final project, while also learning important skills for visualizing data.
What is your favorite thing about being a GEOS major at GSU?
I love all the different sub-disciplines I can explore within the department’s course list, as well as how passionate all the faculty members are. They really set students up for success and are always willing to go out of their way to help you out! I’m also super grateful for all the amazing friends I’ve made within the major. They definitely make the journey brighter!
What are you working on right now?
I’ve got a few things on my plate at the moment! I’m mainly focused on being a part of an International Research Experience for Students (IRES) with Dr. Hidalgo. I started this project by traveling to Costa Rica in 2023 to do field work and most recently I went to present my research at Cities on Volcanos in Antigua, Guatemala. My research focused on using InSAR to detect ground deformation at the Guayabo Caldera in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica.
I have also been interning at Sustainable Initiatives at GSU where I work on GIS-related projects that promote sustainability across all GSU campuses. In Fall 2023, I worked on getting the Decatur campus USA Bee Campus certified as well as creating a Story Map where we highlight the gardens and green spaces available at many GSU campuses. This semester I’m working on creating a map that shows all the bike infrastructure around the Atlanta campus!
What are you planning to do after GSU? And how do you think your GEOS degree at GSU has prepared you for that?
As of now, I’m definitely planning on getting my masters degree, so I will most likely stay here at GSU to complete that! Afterwards, I would love to be able to apply GIS to a job that is related to environmental justice. The GIS-related courses I have taken at GSU have taught me how versatile it can be, so being able to apply those skills to help communities that are vulnerable to environmental injustices would help me practice my degree in an impactful manner!

Aaron presenting his poster at the Cities on Volcanos 12 conference in Antigua, Guatemala last month