Young Professionals

YP Breakfast Lecture Series 1

Event Description: Join us for an unforgettable breakfast lecture series focused on the practical applications of geoscience and remote sensing technology! Our distinguished speakers will provide valuable insights and perspectives into real-world applications of this powerful technology. Engage with fellow students, young professionals, and experts through interactive lectures, Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities - all while enjoying breakfast. This event is open to all IGARSS attendees, regardless of age or professional status. Whether you are seeking to explore different career paths or are interested in the latest advancements in remote sensing technology, our lectures offer practical knowledge and skills to help you advance in your field. Don't miss this chance to unlock the potential of remote sensing technology and create a positive impact on society. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event!

Presentation Skills Workshop

Event Description: Join us with Brian Brophy, Caltech Theater Director and JPL Story Coach, for a unique sci-com training workshop on storytelling with improvisation to sharpen your skills to communicate your science. Whether it is Geoscience, Remote Sensing or any other field, how can you create the best version of yourself for any occasion and not be a phony version of yourself. This workshop will explore your origin stories, science passion, research and then practice your story (3 minutes) to deliver at the end of the session, if time allows. For anyone giving a talk at this Symposium keep in mind three things that might help keep your audience alert: 1) My action. What am I doing? 2) My objective. Why am I doing it? 3) My circumstances.My circumstances. Where and with whom am I doing it? Brian Brophy, Caltech Theater Director and JPL Story Coach, for a unique sci-com training workshop on storytelling with improvisation to sharpen your skills to communicate your science. Whether it is Geoscience, Remote Sensing or any other field, how can you create the best version of yourself for any occasion and not be a phony version of yourself. This workshop will explore your origin stories, science passion, research and then practice your story (3 minutes) to deliver at the end of the session, if time allows. For anyone giving a talk at this Symposium keep in mind three things that might help keep your audience alert: 1) My action. What am I doing? 2) My objective. Why am I doing it? 3) My circumstances. Where and with whom am I doing it?

Biography: Brian Brophy is the Director of Caltech Theater, Story Coach at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for Missions Trident (Probe to Triton), Veritas (Orbiter to Venus), co-creator of Credible Messenger Training with JPL’s Story Architect Paul Propster, Fulbright Scholar to India and twenty-five-year veteran actor in the film/TV/theater industry. He also continues as a Scholar in Residence at the Indian Institute of Technology (IITGN) for his fifth tour this summer 20024. Other highlights include Yale-NUS Singapore Artist in Residence, a multi-recipient of the California Arts Council/Culture Affairs Department Artist in Community grants and recipient of a George Soros Foundation funding award for a theater project in Bosnia. During the Covid years of 2020-2023 Brophy facilitated online scientific storytelling workshops and digital lifestyle training with members of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech community.

Quantum Technology for Remote Sensing

Event Description: Quantum Sensing is an emerging sensing modality that uses quantum properties of mater and light---namely, quantum superposition, measurement, and entanglement---to achieve unprecedented measurement sensitivity and performance, including quantum-enhanced methodologies that outperform their classical counterparts. Typical quantum sensors exploit techniques such as quantized energy levels in atomic systems, mater waves, quantum entanglement, superposition of quantum states, quantum illumination methods, and manipulation of photons and atoms, in general. Guided by advancements in our ability to generate, manipulate, and control quantum systems, the emerging quantum sensing technologies promise unrivalled sensitivity, resolution, and precision, potentially leading to game-changing applications. Significant gains include technologies important for a range of NASA, Department of Defense, National Reconnaissance Organization, and United States Space Force missions such as timing, remote sensing, in situ measurements, metrology, interferometry, quantum communication, ranging, imaging, radar and lidar receivers, and gravity measurements.

This Technology, Industry and Education (TIE) session will bring together a panel of experts from industry, academia, and government, to brainstorm with the IGARSS attendees on the potential of Quantum Sensing in the near and far terms. After some brief remarks by the panel members, questions from the moderator, the audience will engage with the panel members in an open question and answer session to explore the current state of the art in quantum sensing and the potential for revolutionary gains in the performance of various sensor types.

Organizer and Moderator: Dr. Upendra N. Singh, NASA Technical Fellow for Sensors and Instrumentation, NASA Langley Research Center, USA

Panelists: Five to six panel members from USA, Europe, Asia-Pacific (industry, academia, and government) - TBD

Exploring the Benefits and Opportunities of the Landsat Next Partnership

Event Description: This town hall style session at IGARRS will serve as an essential forum for discussing the benefits and opportunities offered by the Australia-United States Partnership in Landsat Next. With Dr David Hudson, Branch Head of the Satellite Land Imaging Collection Branch at Geoscience Australia leading the session as both presenter and master of ceremonies, attendees will be guided through an exploration of this pioneering collaboration.

The Landsat Next initiative represents a significant leap forward in Earth observation technology, promising enhanced capabilities for monitoring and managing our planet's resources. This session will delve into the technical advancements underpinning Landsat Next, including improved spatial resolution, more frequent revisit times, and the expanded range of spectral bands. These innovations are poised to provide unprecedented insights into environmental changes, agricultural trends, urban development, and natural disaster impacts enabling improved decision-making by governments and industry.

Dr Hudson, with his extensive experience in remote sensing and Earth sciences, will lead a panel discussion on how Landsat Next can be leveraged for scientific research, policy-making, and commercial applications. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how this partnership can drive innovation across disciplines, foster international collaboration, and support sustainable development goals.

Through a Q&A session, participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts, share their insights, and explore potential collaborations. This town hall aims to not only highlight the technical achievements of Landsat Next but also to inspire a collective vision for how these advancements can be harnessed to benefit the global community.

Join us for an engaging and informative session that promises to illuminate the future of Earth observation and the pivotal role of the Landsat Next partnership in shaping it.

Moderator: Dr David Hudson, Branch Head of the Satellite Land Imaging Collection Branch, Geoscience Australia

Career Panel

Event Description: The Career Panel brings together accomplished leading experts from various backgrounds, including industry, academia, and research laboratories, who will share their valuable experiences, best practices, how to make career choices, and the mindset required to thrive in a successful career. This career panel presents an exceptional opportunity for students exploring career possibilities, young professionals seeking to enhance their expertise, or professionals looking forward to further advancing their career to gain insights from a distinguished group of professionals. The panel will feature an interactive discussion, driven by audience questions.

Panel: Our esteemed panelists will be announced soon.

YP Mixer

Event Description: If you are a student, recent graduate, or young professional attending IGARSS 2025, don't miss out on the Young Professionals' Mixer sponsored by the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society! Join us for an evening of interactive and engaging experiences that bring together a diverse group of academics, graduate students, young professionals, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. This is the perfect opportunity to mingle, network, and establish new connections. Moreover, this event offers an outstanding platform for recruiters to connect with and discover promising talent in the field of geoscience and remote sensing. Indulge in a free flow of drinks, Hors d'oeuvres, while you challenge yourself in a TRIVIA contest and enjoy other surprises! However, please note that spots are limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot now to secure your place at this unforgettable event. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at yp@grss-ieee.org.

Entrepreneurship Workshop: Accelerate Your Geospatial Startup

Event Description: The runway to start a successful business is shorter than ever due to rapidly evolving technology and changing marketplace conditions. This panel will help you take your idea for a new geospatial business, product, or service from concept to success as quickly as possible. Our panel of geospatial entrepreneurs will discuss their startup journeys, including how to seek funding, choose a business incubator or accelerator, and implement the right go-to-market strategy. The session will include Q and A between panelists and attendees. After a coffee break, attendees will have a chance to discuss their geospatial startup ideas one on one with our expert panelists.

Moderators:

• Kevin Corbley, President, Corbley Communications Inc. USA

Panelists: To be Announced

Advances and applications in Earth Observation for SDG.
Accelerating Earth Intelligence in the context of GEO

Event Description: This Technology, Industry and Education (TIE) session brings together GRSS and GEO experts from industry, academia, and user communities to brainstorm with the IGARSS attendees and Asia-Pacific stakeholders on how today’s advancements in Geosciences, Earth Observation and AI provide sufficient level of support to GEO Work Program priorities specifically in the monitoring and implementation of SDGs. Emphasis is placed on key synergies between GRSS and GEO at regional and global level and the support provided by GRSS TCs and GEO Working Groups to address challenges relating to Capacity Building and Earth Intelligence in the regions and globally.

Moderators:

• Dr. Haris Kontoes, National Observatory of Athens, Greece
• Prof. Megan Lewis, Co-Chair, Coordination Board, Asia Oceania Group on Earth Observations