Christopher Blackley, GIS specialist at MRRI, was invited to take part in a panel discussion at Montclair University on November 9th, 2026. The event formed part of Montclair’s GIS Day and job fair, giving junior and senior students the chance to put their questions to professionals working across both the public and private sectors of the GIS industry. Chris joined Dr. Anthony Bevacqua, Chief of the Bureau of Climate Change and Clean Energy at NJ DEP; Timothy Krehel of the Port Authority of NY & NJ; and Michael Tomlinovicg, GISP, of the consultancy Neglia. Together, they fielded a wide-ranging set of questions: How is the industry weaving AI into its spatial and data-management workflows? What should graduates focus on when interviewing for a GIS role? Which trends are shaping GIS and spatial modelling today? Is GIS simply a tool, or is there room for genuine scientific research within the field? And how have GIS and spatial modelling served the public interest?
A careers fair followed the panel, where NJSEA-MRRI hosted its own table. Students were encouraged to chat one-to-one with representatives from consultancies and state agencies about jobs, as well as professors to discuss future collaborations and internship opportunities.
The evening closed with dinner, offering participants a relaxed setting in which to network.
