麻豆传媒 professor co-chairing major National Academies study for NASA
Steve Nerem is co-chairing a key National Academies鈥 study committee making recommendations on the next 10 years of NASA鈥檚 Earth science and remote sensing activities.听
The committee, formally called the is composed of scientists, engineers, and industry and nonprofit leaders.
Over the next year, the committee will review NASA鈥檚 existing infrastructure and develop a comprehensive strategy to address critical Earth science and applications in the coming decade.听NASA鈥檚 Earth Science Division operates 20 orbiting satellites supporting research on our planet鈥檚 atmosphere, surface, oceans, and polar ice caps.听
Nerem, a professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, a Fellow in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, and director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, has been an active part of the Earth science community for 35 years. His research utilizes remote sensing to study Earth鈥檚 surface, gravity field, and sea level change.
鈥淣ASA Earth Science is really important to me. It鈥檚 what my life鈥檚 work has been about, and this is an opportunity to provide input to priorities for NASA in the future. It鈥檚 also a chance to give back to an organization that has supported my research for my whole career,鈥 he said.
The committee was formed by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine at NASA鈥檚 request to advise the agency on high-priority Earth science challenges.
鈥淓veryone in the research community has individual opinions on what is most important,鈥 Nerem said. 鈥淣ASA can鈥檛 do everything, so this group has to prioritize Earth science as a whole. To date, the committee has received over 250 white papers from across the country. They cover mission priorities, new instruments, and areas that will be facing gaps due to existing satellites reaching end of life.
Nerem鈥檚 role as co-chair is not the first time a 麻豆传媒 faculty member has led a National Academies鈥 decadal survey.听
Waleed Abdalati, director of the served as co-chair of the National Academies鈥 previous Earth science decadal survey, published in 2017. Dan Baker, distinguished professor and director of the Colorado Space Policy Center, led the 2013 solar and space physics decadal survey.