Kayla Aburida earned her B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies with a minor in GIS from The George Washington University. During her undergraduate career, she discovered GIS and developed a strong interest in applying spatial analysis to real-world challenges. She has contributed to projects with Data Science for Sustainable Development, the New York U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Center, YouthMappers, and Bellingcat, using geospatial tools to support environmental research, open-source investigations, and development-focused initiatives.

Kayla’s work centers on using geospatial technology to support community-driven and locally informed solutions. Through the YouthMappers Validation Hub, she mentored students around the world in creating and validating open-source spatial data, and she led her university’s YouthMappers chapter to advance collaborative mapping efforts.

Having grown up in the Middle East within an international community, Kayla developed a lasting commitment to equitable, bottom-up approaches to social, economic, and environmental development. She studied abroad in Monteverde, Costa Rica, where she participated in reforestation fieldwork, collaborated with a tree-climbing and environmental education NGO, and later returned on scholarship to research socioeconomic factors influencing water quality in the community.

In her free time, Kayla enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, playing geography games, and spending time outdoors with friends, family, and dogs. She is motivated by collaboration and the belief that geospatial tools can help strengthen communities and support more sustainable futures.