“Follow the Data: Storytelling and Visualizations in Environmental Geology”
by Kristen Hasbrock ’12, Senior Geologist, Tanaq Environmental, LLC

It is important to utilize both creative and effective methods of “telling the data’s story” when designing visualizations and communicating with target audiences. In the environmental consulting industry, stakeholder groups can be broad, with diverse technical backgrounds, project roles, and perspectives. The objectives of displaying data vary depending on the audience with the overarching goal of creating effective narratives for data-driven decision making. By communicating data interpretations and conceptual understanding through storytelling, next steps in adaptive projects can be determined, often culminating in surprising results, leading to performance success. This is the story of how following the data led to unexpected field site investigative results and characterization approaches, new research proposals and collaborations, and getting started in geology in the first place. Kristen Hasbrouck is a Senior Geologist for Tanaq Environmental and is the technical lead for the company’s digital initiatives and data visualization programs. She is licensed as a Professional Geologist in the State of Texas and provides technical expertise in the areas of high-resolution adaptive site characterization, 3D conceptual site modeling, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) site characterization, mass flux/mass discharge analysis, hydrogeology and hydraulic dynamics, and lysimeter operations. Ms. Hasbrouck received her B.S. in Geology from Hope College, a Hydrogeology Graduate Certificate from Western Michigan University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Hydrogeology at Western Michigan University, building on current and past PFAS projects with the U.S. Defense Department’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). Her federal PFAS work with Tanaq allows her to travel across the country, but she’s always excited to stay home in Traverse City, MI and take part in sailing races on Grand Traverse Bay.