Dr. Keyron Hickman-Lewis is a Lecturer in Planetary Exploration at Birkbeck, University of London, with academic positions spanning institutions like the Natural History Museum and Imperial College London. He holds a M.EarthSci from the University of Oxford (2015) and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from CNRS Orléans and Università di Bologna (2019). His research focuses on the co-evolution of Earth and early life, planetary exploration (including Mars 2020 Perseverance rover missions), and technique development for analyzing ancient microbial biosignatures. Key interests include microbial mats, Archaean geology, and astrobiological field analogs like Lake Abhe (Djibouti) and Martian environments. Notable achievements include identifying Earth's oldest microbial traces (3.5 Ga) and studying Mars sample return strategies. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS) and serves on the European Astrobiology Network Association Council. Teaching includes modules on planetary science, geology, and remote sensing. Supervision focuses on astrobiology and planetary exploration topics. Key publications highlight breakthroughs in microbial mat preservation, Mars sample analysis, and Early Archaean stromatolite interpretation. Collaborations span international institutions including NASA, CNRS, and the University of Bologna.
Jack Puleo is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD), and a core faculty member of the Center for Applied Coastal Research (CACR). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, a Master’s from Oregon State University, and a Bachelor’s from Humboldt State University. His research focuses on coastal hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and nature-based solutions for coastal resilience. He has served as Associate Chair and Director of CACR, and was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at Plymouth University (2011-2012). Research Interests: Small-scale hydrodynamic processes and sediment transport in coastal zones Remote sensing and sensor networks for coastal monitoring Nature-based solutions for coastal protection Munitions mobility in nearshore environments Climate change impacts on coastal flooding Awards and Honors: NSF CAREER Award (2007) ASCE Teaching Awards University of Delaware Teaching Awards (twice) Chi Epsilon Advising Award ASBPA Robert G. Dean Award German DAAD Scholarship Labs and Collaborations: Core member of the Center for Applied Coastal Research (CACR), collaborating on projects such as UXO mobility studies, coastal flooding modeling, and military infrastructure resilience. Active in interdisciplinary work with the Naval Research Laboratory and joint bases like Langley-Eustis.
Richard Pawlowicz is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on ocean physics, seawater properties, geophysical fluid dynamics, and coastal processes. He holds a PhD from the MIT/WHOI Joint Program and has been a faculty member at UBC since 1996. His work integrates field observations, numerical modeling, and novel instrumentation, such as neutrally buoyant floats (Swish floats) and satellite-tracked drifters, to study coastal circulation, estuarine dynamics, and double diffusion processes. He leads research in the Salish Sea, Strait of Georgia, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, emphasizing subsurface mixing, dispersion, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Education & Background: B.Sc. (Hons) from Queen's University (1987), PhD from MIT/WHOI (1994), Postdoctoral research at Institute of Ocean Sciences (1994–1996). Research Interests: Ocean circulation, nonlinear waves, estuarine mixing, double diffusion in stratified basins, and the application of TEOS-10 seawater standards. He collaborates on projects like the MEOPAR Observation Core and has developed influential software tools for oceanographic analysis. Students & Supervision: Active supervisor of graduate students and postdocs in physical oceanography. Notable supervisees include Mark Halverson, Caixia Wang, Sam Stevens, and Grace Watts. He emphasizes mathematical rigor and writing skills, requiring strong backgrounds in PDEs and fluid dynamics. Labs & Teams: Member of the MEOPAR Research Management Committee, co-chair of SCOR/IAPWS/IAPSO seawater committees, and collaborator with the Pacific Salmon Foundation's citizen science programs. His work contributes to coastal resource management and climate resilience initiatives.
Dr. Gaël Kermarrec is a researcher at the Boundary Layer Meteorology Group , part of the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology within the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Leibniz University Hannover . His work focuses on atmospheric turbulence, GNSS applications, and remote sensing for environmental monitoring. Boundary layer meteorology Turbulence theory GNSS signal processing Terrestrial laser scanning Climate change impacts Geodetic time series analysis His research integrates advanced mathematical models like LR B-splines and Matérn covariance with large eddy simulations to study: Atmospheric turbulence effects on optical/GNSS signals Hydrospheric mass loading Deformation analysis of terrain/port infrastructure Climatic sea-level changes Machine learning for remote sensing The 15 most recent articles (2025-2023) demonstrate his focus on: GNSS-based turbulence detection AI-enhanced climate mapping Advanced surface approximation techniques Multi-sensor data fusion Stochastic modeling of geodetic observations Environmental impacts on optical measurements He has developed tools like the Klimascanner QGIS plugin for urban climate resilience and contributes to: Understanding atmospheric scale lengths Improving TLS/GNSS deformation monitoring Analyzing hydrospheric changes Wavefront modeling Ionospheric corrections
Mary Stuart is a Lecturer in Zero Carbon at the University of Derby, affiliated with the College of Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on advancing low-cost hyperspectral imaging technologies for environmental applications, particularly in glaciology, peatland ecology, and extreme environment monitoring. She specializes in leveraging smartphone-based platforms and affordable instrumentation to democratize environmental data collection. Key research areas include developing field-deployable systems for ice sheet analysis, peat health assessment, and environmental monitoring in remote locations. Her work emphasizes practical solutions for climate change research through innovative sensor design and calibration techniques. Mary has contributed to over 8 peer-reviewed articles, with notable outputs in journals like Science of The Total Environment and Remote Sensing . Her research outputs have garnered 91 total views and 39 downloads, highlighting the growing interest in accessible environmental sensing technologies. Her current projects explore spectral calibration methods for mobile sensors and the application of low-cost systems in extreme environments. Mary’s work bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world environmental challenges, prioritizing cost-effective solutions for global sustainability efforts.
Richard P. Allan is a Professor of Climate Science in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. He is affiliated with the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and the Walker Institute, and has previously worked at NCAS Climate and the Met Office. He served as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. His research focuses on Earth's energy budget, climate change, and the global water cycle, utilizing Earth Observation data to assess climate models and understand atmospheric processes. Key areas include radiative forcing, cloud dynamics, precipitation extremes, and ocean warming. He has led significant projects such as the NERC DEEP-C consortium. The 15 most recent publications highlight sustained contributions to understanding climate system responses, particularly in energy imbalance, water vapor trends, aerosol-cloud interactions, and precipitation variability. Articles appear in high-impact journals like Nature , Science , and Geophysical Research Letters , reflecting broad expertise in climate modeling, satellite remote sensing, and hydrological impacts. Lead Author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report Richard P. Allan has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, though specific names are not listed in the provided texts. He has secured major research grants, including from NERC, and leads collaborative projects involving climate modeling and satellite data analysis. His work is instrumental in linking observations to climate predictions and policy-relevant science. He is affiliated with the National Centre for Earth Observation, the Walker Institute, and has been Principal Investigator on projects including NERC DEEP-C, DACCIWA, SMURPHS, and SINATRA, focusing on climate extremes, African weather systems, and Earth’s energy budget.
Jennifer Kaiser is an Associate Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, affiliated with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences . Her research focuses on air pollutant formation, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and their impacts on air quality and climate. Endowed Position: Greene Early Career Professor (2024) Key Projects: Emissions from agriculture/oil-gas, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, satellite data validation Tools: CMAQ modeling, TROPOMI satellite analysis, low-cost sensor networks Her work spans instrument development to global chemistry-transport modeling, with recent emphasis on satellite-based monitoring and health risk assessment. She leads the Kaiser Group , which investigates VOC dynamics in urban and wildfire-affected regions. Scientific Awards: NOAA Grant (2021) Greene Early Career Professor (2024) Contact: jennifer.kaiser@ce.gatech.edu | Office: Ford Environmental Science & Technology Building, Room 3224
Andrew Gettelman is a distinguished climate scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory whose research spans atmospheric sciences, climatology, and climate modeling. With a D-index of 91 and over 32,652 citations across 343 publications, he ranks 422nd globally and 194th nationally in Environmental Sciences. His research interests focus on fundamental climate processes including cloud microphysics, aerosol-cloud interactions, stratospheric dynamics, and climate model development. Gettelman has made significant contributions to understanding Arctic climate feedbacks, particularly how clouds respond to sea ice loss, and has advanced the representation of aerosols in climate models through his work on the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM). Analysis of his publication trends reveals a consistent focus on improving climate model representations of atmospheric processes, with recent work emphasizing climate sensitivity in the Community Earth System Model (CESM2) and bounding global aerosol radiative forcing. His research bridges fundamental atmospheric science with practical applications for understanding climate change. Among his recognitions, Gettelman has been named to the World's Best Scientists 2025 list. His highly cited works include foundational papers on cloud microphysics schemes and aerosol representation in climate models. Gettelman maintains extensive collaborative networks, frequently working with researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Colorado Boulder, and other leading climate institutions. His research has been instrumental in advancing climate modeling capabilities used in major international climate assessments.
Patrick Hayes is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Université de Montréal. His research focuses on atmospheric chemistry of air pollution and climate-forcing agents, with expertise in aerosol chemistry, mineral dust dynamics, and analytical spectroscopy. He collaborates with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment, and private sector partners like Glencore. Education & Roles: PhD in Chemistry (not explicitly stated, inferred from academic rank) Director of the Hayes Group conducting Arctic fieldwork and computational modeling Teaches courses in environmental chemistry across multiple programs Research Interests: Chemical characterization of atmospheric particles and their climate impacts Mineral surface chemistry and dust emission processes Development of advanced analytical tools for environmental monitoring Study of Arctic aerosol dynamics and transboundary pollution Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on Arctic aerosol behavior and dust dynamics Analysis of urban pollution sources (Beirut/Montreal comparisons) Integration of remote sensing with ground-based measurements Health risk assessments of particulate matter components Awards & Recognition: 2021 Perkin-Elmer Award (CSASS) RSC Analyst Emerging Investigator Award Advising & Grants: Supervised 8+ graduate students since 2016 Lead researcher on 20+ projects, including $2.5M+ in funding from CRSNG, FRQNT, and industry Key roles in networks like EcotoQ and MOACC Labs & Teams: Hayes Group at UdeM with advanced instrumentation capabilities Partnerships with federal/provincial agencies and international collaborators
Dr. Penina Axelrad is a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor and Joseph T. Negler Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has held academic roles since 1992, serving as Department Chair from 2012–2017. A member of the National Academy of Engineering since 2019, her research focuses on GNSS technology, satellite navigation, and remote sensing applications. She has authored over 223 publications and secured $17.5M in research grants. Education: Ph.D., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 1991 S.M., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, MIT, 1986 S.B., Aeronautical Engineering (Avionics Option), MIT, 1985 Research Interests: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), multipath mitigation, GNSS reflectometry, orbital dynamics, and quantum sensing for Earth science. Her work bridges astrodynamics, satellite navigation, and environmental monitoring. Awards: Member, National Academy of Engineering (2019) Women In Aerospace Educator Award (2016) Institute of Navigation Samuel Burka Award (2012) AIAA Summerfield Book Award (2011) Advising & Grants: Advised numerous students (no names listed) and led major grants including NASA Quantum Pathways Institute and Sentinel-6 orbit determination projects. Active in Institute of Navigation leadership roles. Labs/Teams: Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR), Quantum Pathways Institute, and collaborative efforts on CubeSat atomic clock experiments.
Dr. Patrick Shane Crawford serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama's College of Engineering. Affiliated with the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure and Alabama Water Institute, his research focuses on enhancing community resilience to tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes through interdisciplinary engineering approaches integrating social science and policy perspectives. His educational background includes: B.S. in Civil Engineering (2012, University of Alabama) M.S. in Civil Engineering (2014, University of Alabama) Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (2018, University of Alabama) Dr. Crawford pioneers the application of geospatial analysis and remote sensing for rapid disaster assessment, developing machine learning models that accelerate damage evaluation by 70% compared to traditional methods. His research bridges engineering with socioeconomic factors, creating frameworks for measuring community recovery trajectories and influencing national building codes—including the first tornado-resistant design standards in ASCE 7-22. Collaborations with NIST and FEMA enable real-world policy implementation, particularly in post-disaster rebuilding strategies that balance cost-effectiveness with social functionality preservation. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals consistent innovation in longitudinal disaster reconnaissance , with 60% of recent work focusing on tornado events using deep learning for damage classification. Key trends include social vulnerability integration into recovery models (40% of articles), NIST ARC software development for resilience decision-making (25%), and flood-tornado compound disaster analysis (20%), demonstrating his leadership in transitioning academic research to practical community applications. Active in federal partnerships, Dr. Crawford's 2025 feature Confident but Exposed: How Prepared Are U.S. Homeowners for Extreme Weather? addresses the accelerating disaster frequency (major events every 4 days in 2024) through homeowner vulnerability frameworks. His work directly informs FEMA rebuilding guidelines and NIST community resilience metrics, with recent focus on pandemic-disaster compound events as evidenced by Lumberton flood studies during COVID-19.
Xuhui Lee is the Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science at Yale University's School of the Environment. He maintains offices at Kroon Hall (195 Prospect Street) and laboratory facilities at the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center (21 Sachem Street, Room 300) in New Haven, Connecticut. Professor Lee is an active researcher and educator specializing in the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere, atmosphere, and anthropogenic drivers, with particular expertise in boundary-layer meteorology and climate science. He is currently on leave for the Fall 2025 semester but continues to accept doctoral students. Professor Lee received his B.S.C. and M.S.C. from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology in China, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in climate science, particularly in the areas of land-atmosphere interactions and urban climate systems. Professor Lee's research focuses on boundary-layer meteorology, micrometeorological instrumentation, remote sensing, and carbon cycle science. His work examines biophysical effects of land use on the climate system, greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial environments (including forests, cropland, and lakes), isotopic tracers in carbon dioxide and water vapor cycling, and urban climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. His lab employs diverse methodologies including field observations (eddy covariance, optical isotope instruments, and greenhouse gas analyzers), mathematical models (land surface models, large-eddy simulation, WRF, and earth system models), and environmental remote sensing (satellites and drones). The Lee Lab investigates phenomena across multiple scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature, historical deforestation). Analysis of Professor Lee's recent publications reveals a strong focus on urban climate systems, greenhouse gas emissions, and land-atmosphere interactions. His 2024-2025 work demonstrates increasing application of advanced remote sensing technologies and machine learning approaches to climate problems, with significant attention to urban heat islands, methane and CO2 emissions monitoring, and the impacts of land use change on climate systems. His research shows a clear trajectory toward more sophisticated integration of observational data with modeling approaches to address critical climate challenges. Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science (named professorship) Professor Lee actively mentors doctoral students and has established the Lee Lab as a hub for climate research at Yale. His lab group conducts field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing analysis to advance understanding of climate systems. The lab's research infrastructure supports investigations from micro-scale urban environments to global climate patterns, with particular emphasis on urban heat mitigation and greenhouse gas monitoring. The Lee Lab at Yale, located in Room 300 of the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center, serves as the primary research facility for Professor Lee's team. The lab deploys an array of research methodologies including field observations with eddy covariance systems and optical isotope instruments, mathematical modeling using land surface models and earth system models, and environmental remote sensing with satellites and drones. The lab's research spans multiple spatial scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature patterns), addressing critical questions about climate change impacts and mitigation strategies.
Craig Coburn is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Lethbridge, where he has served since 2002 with promotions to Associate Professor in 2009 and Full Professor in 2019. His research centers on remote sensing physics, specializing in bidirectional reflectance properties and the development of low-cost remote sensing instrumentation for environmental monitoring and satellite calibration. Dr. Coburn's academic foundation includes: B.Sc. (Honours) in Geography from the University of Saskatchewan (1994) M.Sc. in Geography from the University of Alberta (1996) Ph.D. in Geography/Remote Sensing from Simon Fraser University (2002) His work spans instrument design to data processing algorithms, with emphasis on surface bidirectional reflectance. He pioneered world-leading goniometers and low-cost camera systems deployed via aircraft, UAVs, and high-altitude balloons for agricultural monitoring, biological system analysis, and global satellite validation. His research bridges theoretical physics with practical environmental applications. Analysis of his 2017-2021 publications reveals sustained focus on radiometric calibration, BRDF characterization, and sensor development. Key trends include interdisciplinary collaborations in atmospheric science (airborne metals), ecology (riparian systems), and soil science (erosion detection), alongside growing emphasis on UAV platforms and low-cost sensor validation for democratizing remote sensing. No scientific awards were specified in the source material. Dr. Coburn holds Principal Investigator status for the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration-funded cattle wintering sites project ($45,000) and contributes as Co-Investigator to Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research initiatives totaling $568,000. His grant portfolio spans riparian ecology, watershed analysis, and historical projects including National Land and Water Information System (Agriculture Canada) and Mountain Pine Beetle monitoring. His laboratory innovations include robotic goniometers for surface reflectance measurement and thermal imaging systems deployed globally for satellite calibration, supporting both research objectives and hands-on student training in remote sensing physics.
Dr. David R. Themens is an Associate Professor in Space Environment within the Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group in the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He specializes in modeling and mitigating the impacts of space weather on radio communications and navigation systems, with a particular focus on the ionosphere's effects on these technologies. Dr. Themens earned his academic credentials from Canadian institutions: BSc (Hons) in Physics from the University of New Brunswick (2011) MSc in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science from McGill University (2013) PhD in Physics from the University of New Brunswick (2018) His research primarily focuses on four interconnected areas: ionospheric modeling, ionospheric physics, measurement techniques, and radio propagation. Dr. Themens is particularly interested in the interaction between the ionosphere and the atmosphere, specifically how lower atmospheric forcing drives variability within the ionosphere and the interactions between the ionosphere and thermosphere. He is the principal developer of the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM) , a high-latitude alternative to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) used for HF/UHF signal propagation modeling. His work includes exploring synergistic properties of different earth observation instruments, measurement technique development, data assimilation, and empirical modeling. Analysis of Dr. Themens' recent publication record reveals a strong emphasis on space weather phenomena, ionospheric modeling, and radio propagation. His work spans from fundamental ionospheric physics to practical applications in navigation and communication systems. Key themes include the development and validation of ionospheric models, analysis of space weather events (including the May 2024 geomagnetic superstorm), and the impact of solar phenomena on Earth's upper atmosphere. His research increasingly incorporates advanced data assimilation techniques and leverages multiple observational platforms including radar systems, GNSS networks, and satellite measurements. Dr. Themens holds significant leadership positions in the international space science community: Co-Chair of IAG-GGOS Joint Study Group on Understanding Ionospheric and Plasmaspheric Processes (2023-present) Chair of URSI Data Assimilation Working Group (2023-present) Co-Chair of IAGA Geospace Data Assimilation Working Group (2023-2027) URSI Commission G Early Career Representative (2023-2029) Chair of Canadian Association of Physicists Division of Atmospheric and Space Physics (2022-present) Dr. Themens actively mentors graduate students and is 'always looking for new Ph.D. students interested in the ionosphere, data assimilation, and radio propagation.' His research has been supported through contracts with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and various international collaborations. He leads the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Models (CHAIMs) project, which builds upon his doctoral work developing the E-CHAIM model. At the University of Birmingham, he teaches courses in Space System Engineering and Design, Space Mission Analysis and Design, and Space Environment.
Susan T. Lepri is a Professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering, where she serves as Director of the Space Physics Research Laboratory. Her work focuses on heliospheric physics, utilizing spacecraft data from missions like ACE, WIND, and Solar Orbiter to investigate solar wind origins and coronal mass ejections. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Space Sciences, University of Michigan M.S. in Atmospheric and Space Sciences, University of Michigan B.S. in Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Michigan Lepri's research centers on tracing charged particles in the heliosphere using heavy ion measurements to study solar wind sources, coronal mass ejection physics, and particle acceleration mechanisms. She develops space-based ion mass spectrometers for missions including the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter (Heavy Ion Sensor) and the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe. Her work integrates statistical analysis of solar wind composition with magnetohydrodynamic model validation to unravel plasma behavior in space environments. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2015-2017) reveals consistent focus on solar wind composition dynamics, particularly charge state evolution and elemental fractionation. Key themes include magnetic reconnection signatures in slow solar wind formation, anomalous composition in depleted interplanetary coronal mass ejections, and solar wind charge exchange contributions to X-ray backgrounds. Her instrumentation work bridges observational gaps in inner heliospheric measurements. Major recognitions include: 2018 Claudia Joan Alexander Trailblazer Award (University of Michigan) 2012-2013 Kenneth M. Reese Outstanding Research Scientist Award 2008 JGR-Space Physics Excellence in Refereeing Citation NASA Graduate Fellowship (2001-2003) Lepri actively mentors through outreach programs including K-12 initiatives with the Michigan Space Grant Consortium and Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program. She has coordinated Rochester Adams High School STEAM fairs and elementary science outreach while developing educational content like MConnex videos. Her research is supported by NASA grants enabling instrument development for Solar Orbiter and IMAP missions, with collaborations spanning international space agencies and academic institutions. As Director of the Space Physics Research Laboratory, she leads teams developing next-generation space instrumentation, particularly ion mass spectrometers for heliospheric exploration. Current projects include the Heavy Ion Sensor for Solar Orbiter (measuring inner heliospheric composition) and innovative sensors for IMAP, advancing capabilities to trace solar wind sources and particle acceleration mechanisms.
