Hawaii native Darian Gill, 22, has a goal of ensuring that future technologies serve the long-term interests of both humanity and the planet.
Right now, Gill is a software engineer at Mainland-based DroneSeed, a company that uses airborne drones to rapidly replant forests that were devastated by wildfires or other causes.
Gill went through STEM programs along the way at Pauoa Elementary, Kawananakoa Middle, and Roosevelt High School, and credited teachers at each stop for his lifelong interest in tech.
"Even in elementary school Mr. [Duncan] Sutherland had me thinking about how we might use robotics to combat climate change as I helped our team build Lego NXT bots for the First Lego League Climate Connections Competition in 2008/2009," Gill told Pacific Business News in an email. "By the time I reached high school, I began to recognize the prominence and practicality of programming, and with Mr. [Howard] Kam’s guidance I was able to begin pursuing that path."
He went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Puget Sound. That led to an internship with DroneSeed, which is currently doing work on Hawaii Island, as well as in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and British Columbia.
DroneSeed's drones have planted seeds in ecosystems as varied as Michigan and New Zealand, and it is the only company approved by the FAA to operate heavy-lift drone swarms in all states west of Colorado, said Gill, who was recently hired as a full-time engineer with the company.
What did your internship with DroneSeed entail?
This summer I completed a software engineering internship [at DroneSeed], whose mission is to “make reforestation scalable and mitigate the worst effects of climate change.” We at DroneSeed accomplish this by using drones to rapidly reforest areas that have been hit by wildfires and sequestering carbon in the resulting trees.
During my internship I developed a computer vision tool to help our biology research team detect animals in camera trap images taken during seed survival experiments. The goal was to help our team determine which animals could potentially interfere with the seeds we plant. I also worked on increasing the efficiency of our drones’ network communication protocols which allowed us to safely fly more drones simultaneously.
Do you have a long-term career goal or interest? It looks like you have some interest in environmental causes?
Like many people growing up in the Islands, I understand we need to reestablish a reciprocal relationship between our communities and our environment. Simple extraction is not sustainable. Being immersed in aloha aina and learning about how konohiki used the kapu system to ensure each ahupuaa had enough resources gave me a systems-level understanding for environmental stewardship at a young age.
I first worked to maintain this balance in the Kupu Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps and with the crew at Hookuaaina [a loi kalo in Maunawili]. Recently though, I’ve been working to channel my technological skills towards this end as well. I aspire to be a digital konohiki — someone who uses modern technology to better synergize the aims of society and the needs of our natural world. I’m delighted that DroneSeed has hired me as full-time Software Engineer to keep working toward this goal.
How do your interests tie in with the Hawaii tech and innovation scene?
Hawaii has given me the cultural foundation from which I’ve built my worldview. And, it’s given me something to passionately protect. I really admire the work that Purple Maia and Oceanit are doing to instill this appreciation in the next generation and empower them to innovate based on their convictions.
In many instances, it’s easier to invent the future than to predict it, but with climate change we know what’s coming, and it’s no secret that the coming years will be challenging for Hawaii. It’s heartening to also have local organizations like the Blue Planet Foundation and Elemental Excelerator that recognize this and are acting to preserve my home. My internships at both were crucial in launching my career. I’m proud that the work I’m doing at DroneSeed isn’t very far removed from the islands as well. We’re currently using our technology on the island of Hawaii planting native species like koa, aalii, and iliahi.
