Date: Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM Pacific
Call-in: 877-951-7311 (New Call-In Number)
Passcode: 4256755

Come learn how and why NASA satellite data is being used to predict the onset of water-related and vector-borne diseases as well as to inform operational users so they can respond to outbreaks. During this telecon, we will have NASA scientists share research that is being done to learn more about malaria transmission in the western Amazon basin as well as cholera outbreaks in various locations.  Learn about a current NASA DEVELOP program which is focused on western Europe, and find out how citizen scientists around the world are getting into the action by using their smart phones to collect and share data about potential mosquito breeding sites. We will share several great resources and one of the newest NASA videos which focus on this topic.

(See our telecon FAQs and etiquette reminders.  Click the date above for a calendar reminder.)

This special telecon has been made available to all viewers.  Please note that (free) membership is required for full access to the Museum Alliance site; please visit Join Our Community to learn more. 

---

Speakers:

Dr. Ben Zaitchik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. His research addresses hydroclimatic variability across a range of spatial and temporal scales, with a particular focus on the impacts that variability has on water resources, food and energy systems, and human health. Prior to joining JHU, Ben was a Research Associate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a AAAS Fellow at the U.S. Department of State.

Gia Mancini, Doug Gardiner, and Luisa Silva are members of the 10-week Western Europe Health & Air Quality project with the NASA DEVELOP program at Goddard Space Flight Center. Gia graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Environment and Natural Resources and is the project lead for this fall term. Doug is currently a master’s student at George Mason University studying Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Energy and Sustainability. Luisa graduated from Boston University with a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainable Energy. This is Gia’s and Luisa’s first term and Doug’s second term with the NASA DEVELOP program.

Dr. Antar Jutla is Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at West Virginia University.   His research focuses on predictability of water-related infections using satellite remote sensing data.  More recently, his research group- Human Health and Hydro-environmental Sustainability Simulation Laboratory-is working on issues of water governance and distribution of food nutrition for human population. He is an Editor of GeoHealth, a new flagship journal started by the American Geophysical Union to integrate health (environmental, human and ecological) with geosciences. Prior to joining WVU, he was post-doctoral researcher at NOAA.

Dorian Janney is a retired science educator who spent over thirty years in the classroom. She is the Senior Outreach Specialist for the NASA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, and works with the GLOBE Observer citizen science efforts and the GLOBE Program. Currently, she is leading the GPM Water-related and Vector-borne Disease Initiative.