This course features leading experts from across the spectrum of Earth observation and Earth science, led by a core group of senior presenters whose short profiles are provided below.
Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geography, UCL. Mat is a member of the Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Group and the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).
Senior Scientist and Head of Remote Sensing and Marine Optics at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Assistant Director for the Partnership for the Observation of the Global Oceans.
Maria Fabrizia Buongiorno has coordinated National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Remote Sensing Activities since 2005 and has contributed to the definition of INGV research program requested by the Italian Ministry of Research on an annual basis. She is expert of optical image systems operated by satellite for EO applications and has led a large number of scientific and technological projects.
John Burrows is a Professor of the Physics of the Ocean and Atmosphere and Director of the Institutes of Environmental Physics and Remote Sensing at the University of Bremen. He is also a Fellow of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). His research has contributed to our scientific understanding of air pollution, the ozone layer, the upper atmosphere, biogeochemistry and climate change.
Simonetta Cheli is the Head of the Coordination Office, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France. Her role involves coordinating ESA relations with the European Union, the European Commission and with various other European entities, including Meteorological Organisations (EUMETSAT, ECMWF and ESA Member States).
Fabrice is currently head of the R&D department at the Radar Applications Division of CLS, working on the development and validation of surface wind, wave and current retrieval from synthetic aperture radar.
Hayley is a Marine Earth Observation Scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Her educational background in environmental science and oceanography has been developed to focus on Earth observation - particularly the use of ocean colour in both water quality and ecosystem research.
Barbara Horvatic
Marketing and Content Specialist Agriculture at Pix4D
Barbara previously worked for Planet as their Channel Operations Manager. She has a Master’s in GIS for Development and Environment, Remote Sensing from Clark University, and a Master’s in Geography, GIS from the University of Zagreb.
Dr Johnny Johannessen
Adjunct Professor at the Geophysical Institute
Dr Johnny Johannessen is an adjunct professor at the Geophysical Institute in the University of Bergen. He is also the Research Director in Ocean Remote Sensing at Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre and the Vice Director of Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre since 2010.
Dr Pierre-Philippe Mathieu
Earth Observation Applications Engineer
An Earth Observation Applications Engineer in the Earth Observation Science and Applications Department of the European Space Agency. He spent 15 years working in the field of environmental modelling, weather risk management and remote sensing.
Professor Jose Moreno
Professor in Earth Physics
Jose Moreno obtained a degree in Theoretical Physics from the University of Valencia. After several years working in the Astrophysics Group, he is presently teaching at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Valencia, as Professor of Earth Physics, and working on different national and international projects related to remote sensing and space research, and is head of the the Laboratory for Earth Observation at the University of Valencia.
Dr Nathalie Pettorelli
Senior Research Fellow
Nathalie Pettorelli is a Scientist in ZSL's Institute of Zoology. She recently received a Points of Light award from the UK Prime Minister for her work on Soapbox Science, an initiative to encourage women to pursue a career in science. Her specialities are population ecology, conservation biology and environmental conservation. She also has a background in statistics, remote sensing and GIS-linked problem solving.
Professor Trevor Platt
PML Professorial Fellow
Professor Trevor Platt is a Professorial Fellow at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. His research interests include: the physiological ecology of marine phytoplankton; thermodynamics of open-ocean ecosystems; the influence of physical structure of the marine environment on populations living within it; submarine optics; size structure of marine communities; remote sensing of ocean colour; the ocean carbon cycle and climate change, and the ecological approach to fisheries management.
Tobias Reinicke
Independent Geographical Information Systems and EO data expert
Tobias Reinicke is a GIS and EO data expert currently working as a GIS Developer for the Metropolitan Police. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2006 with an MSc in Computing and has a degree in Human Geography and Geographical Information Systems.
Dr Andreas Richter
Leader of the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) group
Andreas is the Leader of the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) group at the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen. His current research interests include optical remote sensing of atmospheric composition, development of retrieval techniques for UV/visible measurements from the ground, airborne platforms and satellites and use of satellite measurements in tropospheric chemistry studies, in particular related to pollution monitoring and tropospheric halogen chemistry.
Dr Kanta Kumari Rigaud
Lead Environmental Specialist, Climate Change Group
Kanta is a Lead Environmental Specialist of the Climate Change group at the World Bank and has more than 25 years of professional experience in natural resources management, environment management, and climate change adaptation in multinational, national, academic, and non-governmental organizations.
Eddy Search
Local Advisor
Eddy Search is a Local Advisor at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. He is also the Managing Director of e-searchcom Ltd. His role as Local Advisor to Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) Ltd involves the development of the former BT site into a Space Science Park, assisting on education and outreach activities and acting as technical consultant in the development of the site as a UK Space Gateway for satellite communications projects, radio astronomy and deep space communications.
Dr Aurelie Shapiro
Satellite Remote Sensing Specialist
Aurelie is a Satellite Remote Sensing Specialist at the World Wide Fund for Nature. She works on biomass mapping from integrated LiDAR, field data and satellite imagery, forest degradation mapping and monitoring, global program monitoring, global indicators relevant to Aichi targets, wildlife corridor mapping and monitoring and the development of online monitoring systems.
Dr Stefan Simis
Earth Observation Scientist (Inland Waters)
Stefan is a Phytoplankton Ecologist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory with a keen interest in optical observation technology, ranging from in situ measurements to remote sensing, based in laboratory, field, and numerical studies. Cyanobacteria detection and ecophysiology are of particular interest.
Piran Trezise
Operations Director
Piran is the Operations Director at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. He has a Master’s in Environmental Management for Business from Cranfield University. He leads on the development and delivery of a transformational project at Goonhilly Earth Station.
Professor Martin Wooster
Professor of Earth Observation Science
Martin Wooster is Professor of Earth Observation Science in the Dept. of Geography, King's College London, and a Divisional Director of the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).