NASA Invites Media to Meet Earth Science Innovators

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- From flooding in New Orleans to coffee cultivation in Guatemala and wildfires in Alaska, NASA Earth observations from space are being put to work helping address a wide range of real-world issues.

NASA invites media to meet the developers behind some of these innovative projects and learn how the agency turns global Earth observations into societal benefits on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington.

The annual Earth Science Applications Showcase begins at 10 a.m. EDT in the James Webb Auditorium with a one-hour overview of NASA's Applied Sciences Program, followed by "flash talks" and an interactive poster session on select projects. The event concludes at 12:30 p.m.

Speakers from NASA's Earth Science Division include:

    --  Lawrence Friedl, director, Applied Sciences Program
    --  Woody Turner, ecological forecasting program manager
    --  David Green, disasters program manager
    --  John Haynes, health and air quality program manager
    --  Brad Doorn, water resources and agriculture program manager

Flash talks and posters will spotlight several recent projects in the Applied Sciences DEVELOP and SERVIR programs. DEVELOP brings together interdisciplinary teams to address environmental and public policy issues. SERVIR is a joint venture between NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Flash talks will highlight several water resources and disaster projects:

    --  Coastal flood risk in Southern California
    --  Wildfire-driven ecosystem change in the Kenai Peninsula
    --  Lightning risk in Nepal and Bangladesh
    --  Bison grazing in Grand Canyon National Park
    --  Soil moisture and ecosystem health in Idaho
    --  Water pollution impact on mangroves in Costa Rica

To register for the event, media must email their affiliation by 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, to Steve Cole at stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov.

NASA uses the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet and improve lives. NASA makes its Earth observations freely available to those seeking solutions to important global issues such as changing freshwater availability, food security and human health.

For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/earth

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SOURCE NASA