Humans of Kontinentalist: Rayson

Kontinentalist
Nov 1 · 6 min read
Rayson, our multi-talented intern

A few weeks ago we caught up with Rayson, our summer intern. Rayson is a third-year university student studying for a Bachelor in Environmental Studies with a specialisation in Geography at the National University of Singapore. You can read his own writeup of his experience here!

Hi Rayson! How did you come to intern at Kontinentalist?

I actually heard about Kontinentalist a year ago. At university, my course has a yearly sharing session where our seniors share what sort of internships they have done, or what sort of programs they have participated in. We are a very small community so these sharing sessions are really great for us. Kontinentalist came up in one of these sessions, and with a geography specialisation, I was really attracted to the work Kontinentalist does, especially with the GIS angle. I went to Kontinentalist’s website and took a look at the career page, applied, and that’s how I ended up here!

Wow, we are delighted that Kontinentalist was mentioned in this sharing session. Can you tell us more about your role here during your internship? What have you been working on?

At the start of my internship, I was mainly working on research for the new Kontinentalist map database that is currently being developed. My role was to source for specific information such as development indicators and filter data deemed suitable for the database.

Other than this, I also started writing a story on rising sea levels in Asian cities. It was my first time writing a less academic piece of writing and pursuing an article that was geared more towards the masses. And I enjoyed it a lot more! I found that it was more about communicating in a clear and direct way to my audience, whereas academic writing felt more of an information overload. It was a steep learning curve for me, but it was really enjoyable!

A peek at Rayson’s story

Tell us more about your story! How was the research and writing process for you?

I started off my research by trying to get a sense of what the current coverage on rising sea levels is. I then tried to work out an Asian angle, and I tried to find something that has not really been touched on before, so that I can find something new and interesting.

I then thought about the data visualisation for the story. I felt that a story on rising sea levels had to be visually compelling to showcase the impact. Map was the way to go, in order to communicate how much land was submerging. To visualise the data, I downloaded some digital elevation models, applied them to a map, and then set the sea levels. The software itself then automatically highlighted areas that would be flooded. I then extracted the information from the raster layer and turned it into a graphic.

Rayson with the Kontinentalist team and their soft toy children

Have you enjoyed working Kontinentalist thus far?

Yes I have!

I really like the work culture here at Kontinentalist. There is a lot of trust between colleagues in terms of the work that needs to be done. People here are very warm, genuine and honest, and not afraid to voice their opinions. I think that is a very admirable work culture. As a company, I like that Kontinetalist provides an Asian focus. When you read articles online, they are always very Western-centric. I feel that an Asian voice is really lacking, but I think that Kontinentalist fills that gap by providing an alternative and giving a different perspective on stories.

How did you come to study Environmental Studies with a specialisation in Geography?

Back in my school days, I used to be very involved with the outdoors and felt a close connection to nature. I really enjoyed mountain climbing and trekking. To be honest, I’m not much of an animal person. Rather, I’m more into geology and physical landscapes. I think this spurred my interest in environmental geography. I chose a bachelor in Environmental Studies because I was interested to understand how societies interact with their surrounding environments, and the ways in which we can impact the world.

I have not really thought about the future and what I want to do after I complete my degree, but I am considering a future in research and to perhaps do internships overseas to gain more experience and grow my knowledge.

Kontinentalist team bonding

What are your hobbies?

As mentioned, I really enjoy trekking and mountain climbing. I have been to Mongolia, where I trekked for about two weeks. I have also been to Taiwan where I climbed the Snow Mountain (Xueshan). Mountain climbing is very tiring, but to me it is like a form of meditation. I find myself focusing inwards, thinking about each step that I take. Reaching the summit is a great feeling of release. I find it very exhilarating!

I think music is also a hobby of mine. I would say that it is both a hobby and a passion. I enjoy playing music; I am a guitarist and I play in a band. Music is how I release stress, and it has always been a very big part of my life. It is where I channel my emotions. My band prefers to play rock music, basically stuff you can headbang to!

I also really like to play dodgeball. The general idea of it is that it’s a very casual game, but when played seriously, it can be pretty terrifying! I enjoy it because it requires a lot of focus. It’s like a life and death situation, and I find this very thrilling. I play it weekly with my schoolmates.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am most inspired by my peers and the people around me. I know some pretty amazing people, and I try to learn from them and emulate their passion and their drive. For example, I have a senior in university who is very clear about his direction in life, and he works very actively towards his aspirations. He is actually doing marine research in Okinawa now, and I know how hard he has worked to find an opportunity like that, which really inspires me!

What is your favourite food?

I don’t really have one as it really depends on my mood. I have different cravings every day. Some days I crave Japanese food. Other days I prefer traditional Chinese food.

What is your favourite drink?

Teh-ping!

Are you looking forward to anything after you internship?

I am looking forward to going back to school and interacting with the community and friends that I have made in university. I really cherish the time spent with these people!

Kontinentalist

Mapping stories, bridging gaps

Kontinentalist

Written by

Kontinentalist uses maps to tell compelling stories about the world, enhancing Asia's voice in the global narrative.

Kontinentalist

Mapping stories, bridging gaps

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