When she was 4 years old, Olivia Calvert ’27 noticed trash on the ground and asked her parents why it was there. They told her it was because “some people don’t care about the environment.” This simple exchange struck a chord with the young Calvert.

“The word ‘care’ stuck out to me, as I was, and still am, cared for by others every day,” Calvert said. “The environment can’t take care of itself, like I couldn’t take care of myself.” 

Calvert was born with spinal muscular atrophy type 2, a rare neuromuscular disease that causes progressive muscle damage/weakness due to a lack of communication between the brain and motor neurons. 

“My entire life, I have needed help doing everyday tasks that able-bodied people take for granted, such as getting dressed, feeding myself, hygiene care, and transportation,” she said. “Having this constant need to rely on others made me sympathize with the environment, [because it relies on others, too].

“I also made the connection that I have the ability to voice my needs, whereas the environment does not have a voice,” she said. Since this childhood epiphany, she has used her “voice for those who are not seen and heard—both in the context of the environment and human society.”

Calvert is a double major in environmental studies and anthropology and is one of the first Washington students to minor in geospatial information science (GIS), an academic program that launched this spring. GIS is the use of geographic information to create usable data. For example, by mapping where and when car accidents have occurred and analyzing additional contributing factors, police, town planners, or local governments can use the data to reduce the likelihood of future crashes. The Washington College Geospatial Innovation Program (GIP), established in 2003, provides innovative geospatial solutions for its partners and creates experiential learning opportunities for Washington students. 

“Not everyone can just look at a graph and understand or identify the patterns; however, with the use of GIS, we can visualize where things occur more frequently and when they occur,” Calvert said. “I use GIS to analyze environmental data, including pollution, temperatures, natural disasters, etc.” 

Since high school, GIS has provided Calvert with a clear career path that can positively impact the environment without requiring her to be in the field. Through independent studies at GIP, Calvert has mapped water quality, sources of pollution, and more to help mitigate human impacts on the Chesapeake Bay. She can also run simulations of future environmental impacts, which can inform stakeholders about the likely outcomes of specific preservation efforts. 

Not only has Calvert spent her college career refining her professional skills, she has also evolved her advocacy and leadership. She serves as the Americans with Disabilities Act chair in the Student Government Association, where she voices concerns about campus accessibility.