Environmentalsciencestories, our legacy to planet Earth
Learn how the Natural Resources Department develops research and projects across the globe. Our mission is the sustainable management of the biosphere by using Earth observation data and spatial information (such as satellite images and remote sensing).
Novia Arinda Pradisty, PhD candidate at the ITC Faculty of the University of Twente, has recently been awarded a prestigious grant from the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Academy Ecology Fund.
Stefanie Steinbach is a PhD graduate specialized in Earth observation-based wetland research.
As an external PhD candidate, Stefanie had to deal with some complexities of academic research while working with many organizations in different countries.
Precision agriculture is an approach to farming that utilizes technology, data analysis, and specialized equipment to optimize various aspects of the agricultural process. This approach allows farmers to make informed decisions, reduce resource use, and maximize yields while minimizing environmental impact. Read this NRStory to discover how UAVs are becoming a staple of precision agriculture.
These two students from GEM have recently completed an internship with the Sloth Conservation Foundation in Costa Rica.
Discover their unique experience in Panama and Costa Rica as they prepared and worked on their internship projects to protect sloths using Geo-Information Science.
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Careers made in Environmental Sciences
In this series, we interview our students and alumni to learn about their study experience, their thesis topic, and how it links to their career development.
Fieldwork was the highlight of my PhD. I traveled to Rwanda and Kenya, working closely with local institutions and communities. One of the most memorable parts was using a little inflatable kayak to collect water samples in small wetland reservoirs. I would also like to mention the work we did with local institutions and, through them, with user communities. Consider establishing links, working closely with locals, and collecting their feedback.
My interest in GIS, remote sensing and the whole GEO field grew over time. I knew that I wanted to be in this realm and use my computer science background with topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning. [...] I thought that going into academia and teaching would be a fun experience, and then I decided to do a Master’s.
We were the first GEM students to go to the Sloth Conservation Foundation in Costa Rica for an internship, and we definitely recommend it to future students. During our internship, we met really nice people and discovered a beautiful region.
For my internship project, I used GIS to develop a strategic plan for future canopy bridge installations in Costa Rica. We used satellite imagery to identify forest patches and suggest locations for new bridges.
I’m starting an internship in September with the World Resources Insitute for monitoring deforestation in Europe with the Global Forest Watch tool. The conference and my thesis experience have made me consider continuing in research, but I’m keeping my options open for now.
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Wanna stay connected? Join our community of more than 2000 Natural Resources enthusiasts by following our LinkedIn, X and Bluesky accounts. Your journey into the world of natural resources begins here!