题目1：Challenges in Transitioning from Research to Operational Terrestrial Observation Systems

报告人：Dr. John Townshend, Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, the University of Maryland

时间：5月31日（周日）上午10：00

地点：2321会议室

题目2：Mobilizing public support for global change using Earth Observation: Lessons learned from UNEP Atlas of our changing environment

报告人：Dr. Ashbindu Singh, Regional Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Division of Early Warning & Assessment - North America (DEWA)

时间：5月31日（周日）上午11：00

地点：2321会议室

报告人简介：

Dr. John Townshend

Professor & Chair, Department of Geography, University of Maryland (1989-1995 and 2001-11).

Affiliate Member: Institute for Advanced Computing Studies and the Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland.

John Townshend carries out research on global land cover characterization through the use of remotely sensed data through his membership of NASA’s EOS-MODIS team and as PI of a NASA Measures project to provide global estimates of deforestation at Landsat resolutions. The objectives are both to provide an improved quantitative depiction of land cover but also to provide reliable data on rates of land cover change. He is the PI of the Global Land Cover Facility which houses the largest open access non-governmental on-line collection of Landsat data in the world along with MODIS products.

INTERNATIONAL ROLES

2000-10Co-Chair, Integrated Global Observations of the Land, an IGOS-P Theme.

1996-10Chair, Advisory Committee to UNEP’s Division of Environmental Information, Assessment and Early Warning – North America.

2008-　　 Member, Editorial Board of the International Journal of Digital Earth.

Dr. Ashbindu Singh

Ashbindu Singh has a strong multidisciplinary background with postgraduate degrees in physical and natural sciences and a Ph.D. in environmental science. He has 30 years of work experience: 13 years working with the Indian Forest Service (1977-1990) in various capacities at local, provincial and national levels and over 17 years with UNEP in different parts of the world.

He is intimately involved in analyzing environmental sustainability issues around the globe. He has over 100 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and conferences, and 35 UNEP reports on various environmental issues. Findings of his research work are extensive referred by the scientific community and those involved in the environmental policy formulations. One of his scientific papers titled “Digital change detection techniques using remotely sensed data” is considered a classic the field of earth observations (566 citations documented in the Google Scholar as on 18 March, 2008). The team under his direction has produced highly influential reports on various environmental issues including global forests, threats to freshwater, coastal vulnerability, linkage between environment and health, environmental conflicts , transboundary air pollutants , biodiversity and the UNEP’s best seller ever and award winning publication “One Planet many people: Atlas of our changing environment”.