Cartographer

As a cartographer, you create maps that help people understand the world around them. You use special computer software to take information about geography - rivers, towns, roads, forests - and turn it into clear maps that people can actually use. Your maps might show hiking routes, help councils plan new buildings, or show scientists where forests are disappearing.

Your work is a mix of being outdoors and being at a desk. You might go to a location to check that your maps are accurate, then spend time at the computer drawing and updating them. You talk with the people who will use the maps - like town planners or nature conservationists - to understand what they need to see. You have to stay up to date with changes in the landscape, and explain what your maps show in a way that makes sense to people who aren't experts in geography.