Dr. Brigitte Sommer is a Research Fellow at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Her work focuses on marine ecology, particularly coral reef conservation, climate change impacts, and subtropical marine ecosystems. She holds a PhD in Marine Ecology from The University of Queensland (2015), alongside honors and master’s degrees in marine-related fields from Southern Cross University and the University of New England. Her research investigates species distribution shifts, coral reef resilience, and the effects of warming on tropical-subtropical transition zones. She has secured grants including an Australian Research Council DECRA (2023) and a University of Sydney Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018). She is a member of the Sydney Environment Institute and has published widely on coral demographics, sea urchin population dynamics, and climate-driven ecological shifts. Key achievements include identifying mechanisms behind coral range expansions and documenting biodiversity responses to human disturbances. Her work bridges field ecology, museum collections, and cutting-edge techniques like photogrammetry and CT scanning for taxonomic and ecological insights.
Yolla Yousef Qusta Al Asmar serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Earth Observation Science, actively contributing to geospatial research and education with a focus on UAV technologies and remote sensing applications. Her professional profile reflects sustained engagement in both environmental monitoring and educational innovation within the geospatial domain. Her research expertise encompasses: Advanced UAV photogrammetry and remote sensing techniques Environmental applications including forest recovery assessment and agricultural monitoring Development of space-related educational curricula across degree levels Precision agriculture solutions for date palm cultivation Integration of geospatial technologies in online education platforms Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals a strategic research trajectory combining technical remote sensing methodologies with educational frameworks, particularly emphasizing UAV applications for real-world environmental challenges and workforce development in the space sector. This dual focus positions her work at the intersection of technological innovation and pedagogical advancement. She received the Inclusive Earth Observation (EO4all) award in 2022, recognizing her contributions to democratizing access to earth observation technologies and methodologies. No information is available regarding student supervision, research grant funding, or specific laboratory affiliations in the provided materials.
Dr Enrico Pirotta is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Biology and the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) at the University of St Andrews. His research focuses on quantitative ecology, particularly the ecology, behavior, physiology, and population biology of marine mammals and other marine predators. He develops and applies statistical tools to study species-environment interactions and anthropogenic impacts, aiming to inform conservation policies and sustainable resource management. His work emphasizes understanding how natural and human-induced stressors affect marine wildlife, from individual responses to population-level consequences. Key areas include gray whales’ space use, North Atlantic right whale survival, and ringed seal foraging behavior. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to bridge biological and statistical methodologies. Recent research highlights include Bayesian modeling of gray whale exposure to stressors, assessing tagging impacts on right whales, and linking seal foraging to environmental variability. Dr Pirotta’s publications span marine conservation, ecological statistics, and predator-prey dynamics, with a focus on translating findings into actionable conservation strategies. His research has been featured in journals like Ecology and Evolution , Conservation Physiology , and Journal of Cetacean Research and Management . He actively contributes to marine conservation initiatives and collaborates globally on projects addressing climate change and human-wildlife interactions.
Dr Christian Ramp is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Biology, University of St Andrews, specializing in marine mammal conservation and ecology. His research focuses on cetaceans such as humpback whales, fin whales, and North Atlantic right whales, examining topics like body condition, entanglement rates, reproductive success, and habitat use. He employs innovative techniques like drone imagery, photogrammetry, and proteomic profiling to study these species. His work bridges ecology, parasitology, and conservation physiology, addressing threats such as ecosystem shifts and human impacts. Key collaborations include projects in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Eastern Canadian Waters. Research interests span marine parasite ecology, lipid store analysis in blubber, and the application of non-invasive monitoring tools. He actively contributes to global conservation efforts by identifying biomarkers for stress and immune responses in free-ranging whales. Recent studies highlight declining reproductive trends in humpback whales linked to environmental changes. His publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, integrating field observations with laboratory analyses. While no formal student advisees are listed, his work involves extensive collaboration with international researchers and institutions. He has contributed to datasets like the phylogenomic analysis of fin whales, advancing genetic understanding of cetacean populations.
Dr. Tjalling de Haas is an Associate Professor in Natural Hazards and Geomorphology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geoscience, Department of Physical Geography. His research focuses on debris flows, Martian gullies, and sediment dynamics, with projects funded by NWO and DFG. He chairs the Planetary Geomorphology working group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) and publishes the monthly Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month . Education: PhD in Geosciences from Utrecht University (2012-2016), Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Durham University (2016-2018), and Postdoctoral Researcher at Utrecht University (2016). Research Interests : Sediment source-to-sink chains, debris-flow entrainment mechanisms, Martian gully formation via CO₂-driven flows, landslide-tsunami interactions. Current projects include an NWO-VENI project on debris-flow volume estimation and a DFG-funded study on tsunami hazard prediction. Publications : Over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Journal of Geophysical Research and Earth Surface Processes and Landforms , focusing on experimental and field-based geomorphology. Scientific Achievements: NWO Veni Award (2018), NWO-Rubicon Fellowship (2016) Teaching: Courses on hazards, remote sensing, and geomorphology Labs/Teams : Leads the Earth Science Simulation laboratory at Utrecht University for physical debris-flow modeling. Collaborates with the University of Bonn on numerical modeling (r.Avaflow).
Dr. Philip Kraaijenbrink is an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods in Extreme Environments at Utrecht University's Department of Physical Geography within the Faculty of Geosciences. His research focuses on climate change impacts on the water cycle in mountain regions, leveraging remote sensing, UAVs, numerical modeling, and fieldwork. He holds a PhD in Physical Geography (cum laude, 2018) and has received prestigious awards, including the Martinus van Marum Prize (2021) for outstanding environmental science research. Education: PhD in Physical Geography, Utrecht University (2014–2018, cum laude) Master in Physical Geography, Utrecht University (2010–2013, cum laude) Bachelor in Earth Sciences, Utrecht University (2006–2010) Research Interests: Climate change effects on mountain hydrology and glaciers Debris-covered glacier dynamics and remote sensing applications GIS and machine learning for environmental analysis Sustainability of water resources in High Mountain Asia His work integrates UAV-based monitoring, Google Earth Engine, and numerical models to study glacier retreat and vegetation changes in mountain regions. Publications & Projects: Recent articles highlight advancements in glacier mass balance modeling, landslide displacement monitoring, and climate change impacts on snowmelt. His NWO Veni project, GREENPEAKS, investigates vegetation changes and their implications for mountain water supply. Awards & Recognition: Martinus van Marum Prize (2021) Outstanding Student Paper Award (AGU, 2017) Outstanding Student Poster Award (EGU, 2016) Teaching & Labs: He contributes to courses like Data Analysis and Statistics and leads the Mountain Hydrology Group, advancing open science and collaborative projects in glaciology and hydrology.
Robinson Gary is a researcher affiliated with the University of Reading, specializing in geophysical and remote sensing studies. His work focuses on radiative processes, desert climate dynamics, satellite-based environmental monitoring, and digital elevation model accuracy. Key contributions include analysis of Saharan dust storm impacts, radiative flux measurements in Niger, and thermal land surface temperature studies using satellite data. Research Interests: Remote Sensing, Climate Science, Atmospheric Science, Geomatics Publications span experimental fieldwork (e.g., RADAGAST project) and methodological advancements in geospatial data analysis. His early work established foundational methods for evaluating digital elevation models derived from contour data (1994).
Dr. Naser El-Sheimy is a Professor at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Geomatics Engineering, and holds the Tier I Canada Research Chair in Geomatics Multi-Sensor Systems. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the US Institute of Navigation (ION). His research focuses on multi-sensor systems, GNSS/INS integration, mobile mapping, and autonomous vehicle navigation. He has published over 500 papers and supervised 100+ students. Education: B.S. (Ain Shams University, 1984), M.S. (Ain Shams University, 1990), Ph.D. (University of Calgary, 1996). Entrepreneurial ventures: Founded Micro Engineering Group and Profound Positioning Inc., instrumental in TECTERRA's establishment. Research expertise includes inertial navigation algorithms, MEMS sensors, and applications in transportation and GIS. Awards include the ASTech Leadership Award and Killam Professorship. His work has advanced navigation technologies for self-driving cars and unmanned systems. Editorial roles: Editor-in-chief of Geomatics Journal, associate editor of ION Navigation Journal, among others. Leadership: Former ISPRS Commission I President (2008-2012).
Magnus Mathisen Haaland is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Archaeology at the University of Bergen's Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural and Religious Studies. He is affiliated with the Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE), funded by the Research Council of Norway (Project 262618). His research focuses on geoarchaeological methods, micromorphology, and Middle Stone Age technologies, particularly ochre use and site formation processes in Southern Africa. His work integrates fieldwork in South Africa and Zimbabwe with laboratory analyses, including micro-FTIR, XRF, and photogrammetry. Haaland has contributed to excavations at Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter, and Pomongwe Cave, exploring topics like ochre powder deposition, hearth maintenance, and digital site reconstruction. He also collaborates on experimental archaeology, documenting fire behaviors and material use. Haaland's publications emphasize methodological innovation, bridging traditional and digital archaeological approaches. His research highlights human-environment interactions during key phases of prehistoric development. He actively engages with both academic and public audiences through lectures and media interviews.
Dr. Gary Tam is Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Swansea University and member of the Visual Computing Group. Education: B.Eng. from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology M.Phil. from City University of Hong Kong Ph.D. from Durham University PGCtHE from Swansea University Research: Focuses on 3D computer vision, visual analytics, and geometric processing. Recent work includes point cloud compression, saliency detection, and 3D reconstruction techniques. Publications: Research demonstrates strong focus on 3D data processing (point clouds, reconstruction) and visual attention modeling, with increasing application of deep learning across domains including healthcare.
Lars Bodum is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sustainability and Planning, part of The Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University. His research focuses on geoinformation, urban development, and digital technologies, particularly 3D modeling, AI, and geovisualization for sustainable cities. He co-authored Denmark’s foundational GIS textbook and leads projects like the award-winning The Digital Underground , exploring subsurface infrastructure data. Education: PhD in Urban Planning (2000) and MSc in Chartered Surveyor (1990), both from Aalborg University’s Department of Sustainability and Planning. Research interests include data integration, Citizen Science, and Digital Twins. His work bridges academia with municipal and private sector applications, emphasizing practical solutions for infrastructure management and climate adaptation. Key projects include Effektiv anvendelse af 3D-scanninger (2024–2026) and NBRACER (2023–2027), focusing on climate resilience and nature-based solutions. He has received the 2021 Outstanding Review Award for peer review contributions. Labs/Teams: Danish Centre for Spatial Planning and the Centre for 3D GeoInformation. Collaborations span Denmark and international partners like the University of California, Davis.
Rusty Feagin is a Professor at Texas A&M University, holding the COALS Professorship in Rangeland Conservation. He is affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and the Department of Ocean Engineering. His research focuses on how living materials moderate and respond to coastal erosion, translating findings into actionable coastal restoration and engineering projects. He has over 100 publications in top journals like Nature, Science, and PNAS, and his work has been featured by NPR and the New York Times. Dr. Feagin earned his B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University. His expertise spans coastal ecology, geomorphology, and engineering, with a strong emphasis on ecosystem resilience and sustainable management of coasts. His research interests prioritize understanding coastal dynamics, including dune erosion, salt marsh restoration, blue carbon sequestration, and the integration of AI into ecological systems. He explores how vegetation and structural cores (e.g., rocky, geotextile) enhance dune stability during storms and investigates the impacts of hydrology, salinity, and climate change on coastal environments. Feagin has been awarded the Robert Dean Coastal Academic Award and Texas’s highest environmental honor, along with a State Senate proclamation. He contributed to the US National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and served as a Visiting Fellow/Scholar at institutions like the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Oregon State University. His grants include collaborative NSF-funded studies on dune erosion physics and NASA’s Blue Carbon Monitoring System. He advises on hydrological restoration projects (e.g., Anahuac Wetlands) and leads teams using advanced tools like Delft3D modeling and UAV photogrammetry for erosion quantification. His lab actively engages in fieldwork at sites like Matagorda Peninsula and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.
Karine Gauthier is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University since 2023, specializing in hematology. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (with a minor in Environmental Studies) from the University of Ottawa, followed by medical school and residency training in Internal Medicine and Hematology. She completed a fellowship in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) and leukemia at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Healthcare Quality at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on frailty in MPN patients , novel mutations in triple-negative MPNs , and quality improvement in oncology . Beyond her clinical work, she has contributed to interdisciplinary studies in geohazards and environmental engineering, including rockfall monitoring, avalanche dynamics, and landslide-generated tsunamis. Recent publications span geotechnical engineering and natural hazard management, reflecting her broader expertise in multi-disciplinary research. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed, though her work bridges clinical medicine with environmental science applications.
Stuart Sandin is a Professor in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. His research focuses on the structure and functioning of marine communities, particularly coral reef ecosystems across the Pacific Ocean. He leads the Sandin Lab, which employs innovative large-area imaging techniques to study reef ecology and collaborates extensively with conservation organizations globally. Education: B.S. from University of California, San Diego Ph.D. from Princeton University Professor Sandin's research spans multiple interconnected domains including coral reef ecology, fish ecology, conservation biology, and mathematical ecology. His work examines fundamental questions about marine community organization, with particular emphasis on how human activities and biophysical forces shape reef ecosystems. The Sandin Lab has made significant contributions to understanding coral demography, spatial ecology, fish assemblage dynamics, and the application of large-area imaging technologies for ecological monitoring. A notable aspect of his research investigates how coral reefs respond to environmental disturbances, including thermal stress events, while exploring mechanisms of resilience and recovery. Analysis of Professor Sandin's recent publications reveals a strong focus on integrating technological innovation with ecological research. His work increasingly combines large-area imaging techniques with traditional ecological methods to address conservation challenges. Key trends include the development of standardized protocols for reef monitoring, exploration of island-ocean connectivity for holistic conservation, and detailed demographic studies of both coral and fish populations. His research bridges fundamental ecological questions with practical applications for marine spatial planning and community-based conservation efforts across the Pacific region. Collaborations and Field Work: Longstanding partnership with Waitt Institute and Blue Prosperity Coalition Collaboration with OneReef for community-driven coral reef management Island-Ocean Connection Challenge with Island Conservation and re:Wild Field research across multiple Pacific nations including Tonga, Maldives, Samoa, Fiji, and Vanuatu Professor Sandin's laboratory actively engages in capacity building through hands-on workshops that train local stakeholders in standardized data collection methods. His team develops data collection plans, establishes protocols, processes data, conducts analyses, and visualizes findings to support conservation efforts. The Sandin Lab has established field sites at Palmyra Atoll and other remote Pacific locations, creating long-term ecological datasets that track reef community changes over time.
Dr Joanna Kershaw is a Lecturer in Marine Biology at the University of St Andrews' School of Biology. Her research focuses on marine mammals, particularly seals and whales, with an emphasis on conservation physiology, ecosystem health, and the impacts of environmental changes. She investigates biomarkers in blubber, foraging behaviors, and toxin exposure to assess population health and ecosystem dynamics. Dr. Kershaw collaborates extensively on projects involving stable isotope analysis, photogrammetry, and toxicology, contributing to global efforts in marine conservation. Research Interests: Marine Mammal Physiology, Harmful Algal Toxins, Long-Term Ecological Trends, Climate Change Adaptation Key Collaborations: Projects in the North Atlantic, Barents Sea, and Gulf of St. Lawrence Her articles analyze topics like seal oxygen perception, Arctic whale migration, and multi-decadal environmental shifts recorded in seal teeth. She is a peer reviewer for journals like Marine Ecology Progress Series and Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology .
