GEWEX-YESS-YHS ECR Workshop

Oct 23, 2022 | Kigali, Rwanda

YESS, YHS, GEWEX, and WCRP are pleased to announce the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop on “Reflecting on African Early Career Researchers’ role in Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the Service of Sustainable Development Goals.”

This workshop, which is free of charge, will take place alongside the 13th African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) International Conference on Earth Observations and Geospatial Science, or AARSE2022. The date for the workshop is 23 October 2022 at the Kigali Conference and Exibition Village. Early career researchers attending AARSE2022 are welcome to participate in the workshop; please email gewex@gewex.org to inform us of your plans to join. See details below.

1. Event description and structure:

Within the framework of the 13th AARSE International Conference, Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the Service of Sustainable Development Goals that will be held between October 24th and October 28th 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda, the YESS Community will organize a one day workshop on “What role can ECRs play to contribute to the Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the Service of Sustainable Development Goals?” The main goal of the workshop is to raise the voice of ECRs in the related research topics and prepare for the ECRs and the climate research interested community participation in the WCRP Open Science Conference to be held in Kigali Rwanda in 2023. The workshop also aims to gather a huge community of ECRs from the African continent.

During the 1 day workshop, three impulsive talks will be provided by senior scientists on the topic of Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the service of Sustainable Development Goals followed by three parallel discussion tables exploring the following topics:

1. What can ECRs bring to the Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the Service of Sustainable Development Goals research topic?

2. What are the needs of ECRs to help in advancing research on this topic?

3. How can ECRs leverage their networks particularly, during this crisis in order to create a niche for themselves and support each other to be connected to the active community?

The workshop will have two sessions:

First session (Morning session): Panel discussion animated by the invited senior experts

Potential speakers:

Second session (Afternoon session): Round tables discussions; candidates can rotate between topics

1.1 Morning session:

Presentations from seniors speakers followed by a Q&A session

Topics to be covered:

  1. Remote sensing for natural resource management to serve climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies,
  2. Space technology and infrastructures for environmental monitoring and sustainability,
  3. Geospatial sciences in the service of sustainable development.

1.2 Afternoon session:

Three parallel round tables discussions, on the following topics:

1. What can ECRs bring to the Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in the Service of Sustainable Development Goals research topic in the region of Africa.

2. What are the needs of ECRs to help in advancing research on this topic?

3. How can ECRs leverage their networks particularly, during this crisis in order to create a niche for themselves and support each other to be connected to the active community?

  • Candidates can rotate between topics.
  • The organizing team will moderate the roundtable and organize the discussion.
  • At the end of the afternoon session, representatives from the different round table will pitch the outcome of the discussions

Note: Mini surveys based on “Slido” can be shared during the process, to collect the ideas at the same time-to be discussed through.

2. Expected outcomes

  • The plenary session on the strengthening of African ECR community, including a discussion on: strengthening research profiles and collective ECR vision; Enhancing the involvement of ECR in the global community in the mentioned topic
  • Set the stage on what role ECRs can play in the region , where we as ECR communities are right now and focus on a way forward to further improvement, growth etc.
  • Networking opportunities
  • Prepare for the ECRs and the climate research interested community participation in the WCRP Open Science Conference to be held in Kigali Rwanda in 2023
  • Formulate key questions from the discussion tables and presentation of the key messages coming from the workshop during the conference
  • Scientific/white paper about workshop discussions to be published in an international scientific journal
  • Work Plan/future vision on ECR community in Africa

3. Organizing team

Young Earth System Scientist (YESS Community) , the Young Hydrologic Society (YSH), supported by The Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) project the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), Co-chairs of the Organizing committee

  • Dr. Faten Attig Bahar (YESS-community, Tunisia)
  • Prof. Peter J. van Oevelen (GEWEX, US)

Young Earth System Scientist (YESS Community):

  • Dr. Didier Ntwali (Rwanda, onsite)
  • Dr. Modathir Zaroug (Uganda, onsite)
  • Mr. Patrick Lampty (Ghana, onsite)
  • Dr. Claudia Volosciuk (Germany)
  • Mrs. Valentina Rabenal (Argentina)

with Valuable input from YESS regional representatives for Africa (2019/2020)

Young Hydrologic Society (YSH)

  • Mr. Waswa Peter
  • Mr. Bethel Ukazu (Nigeria)
  • Dr. Nilay Dogulu (Turkey)

The Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX)

  • Prof. Peter J. van Oevelen (US)

Background image by the GPA Photo Archive.