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The William T. Pecora Award

Dr. William Thomas Pecora. Director of the USGS from 1965-1971 Later served as Under Secretary of the Interior

The William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals and teams using satellite or aerial remote sensing that make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth’s surface, educating the next generation of scientists, informing decision makers or
supporting natural or human-induced disaster response. The award is presented for national and international work.
An individual award recognizes achievements in the scientific and technical remote sensing community, as well as contributions leading to successful practical applications of remote sensing. Consideration will be given to sustained career achievements or singular
contributions of major importance to the field of remote sensing.
A group award recognizes a team, a group of individuals, or part of an organization that has made major breakthroughs in remote sensing science or technology or developed an innovative application that has a significant impact on the user community or
national and international policies.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) jointly sponsor the award. It was established in 1974 to honor
the memory of Dr. William T. Pecora, former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey and Under Secretary, Department of the Interior.
Dr. Pecora was a motivating force behind the establishment of a program for civil remote sensing of the Earth from space. His early vision and support helped establish what we know today as the Landsat Satellite Program.

Pecora Award Eligibility

Any individual or group working in the field of remote sensing of the Earth is eligible to
receive the William T. Pecora Award. We accept nominations for public and private sector individuals, teams, organizations, and professional societies. National and international nominations are welcome. Previous nominees not selected as recipients may be re-nominated for future awards.
** Nominations Due May 29, 2026 **

Instructions for preparing a nomination and other information about the award can
be found by scanning the QR code to the right or by visiting the Pecora Award
webpages: William T. Pecora Awards | U.S. Geological Survey

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Postdoctoral Fellow Opportunity at HBOI

The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) at Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow of Ocean Optics and Scattering Instrumentation.

This is a grant-funded position located in Fort Pierce, FL. Continuation of grant funds after the first year is anticipated but not guaranteed.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will develop next-generation instrumentation for measurement of the optical scattering in the ocean and contribute to work that will advance the understanding of the connections between particle properties and optical signatures in the environment, relevant to ocean biogeochemistry and remote sensing. May participate in work at the interface of ocean optics, marine biogeochemistry, and instrument engineering, including participation in field measurements, publication of research results, and collaboration with scientists and engineers working on optical approaches to ocean observation.

Summary of Responsibilities:

  • Design and testing of instrument subsystems, design and conduct of lab (breadboard) experiments, development of calibration and correction procedures, and analysis of optical measurements in the context of aquatic particle composition and biogeochemical processes.
  • Provide leadership in submission and contribution to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
  • May participate in coordination and/or participation in field deployments.

Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in oceanography, electrical engineering, optical engineering, physics, or a related field is required.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge:

  • Familiarity and experience with optical components and assemblies, including lasers, laboratory testing and measurement (including data acquisition), and/or laboratory characterization of breadboard prototypes and instrumentation. Familiarity with optical simulation software such as Zemax OpticStudio, Ansys SPEOS, or Lambda Research TracePro, as well as basic CAD proficiency, is desirable.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a research team, applying these skills to design and conduct laboratory experiments. Strong quantitative and analytical skills are essential.
  • Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis (Python, MATLAB, or similar) and strong English-language written and oral scientific communication skills.
  • Experience with oceanographic field measurements is desirable.

For more details and to apply:

https://fau.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FAU/details/Postdoctoral-Fellow-Ocean-Optics-Scattering-Instrumentation_REQ21834

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Cornell Summer Satellite Remote Sensing Workshop

Cornell Summer Satellite Remote Sensing Workshop
June 1 – June 12, 2026, Cornell University, Ithaca New York

The Cornell Summer Satellite Remote Sensing Workshop is being offered once again this year. The workshop is highly methods-oriented and intended to give participants the practical skills needed to work independently to acquire, analyze and visualize large data sets derived from a wide range of ocean satellite sensors.  

Strong emphasis is given to ocean color remote sensing and the use of NASA’s SeaDAS software to derive mapped imagery of geophysical parameters using satellite data derived from the most popular ocean color sensors.  Pre-written python scripts will be used in conjunction with SeaDAS to enable processing large quantities of ocean color data from Level-1 to Level-3.  In addition, the workshop will address the acquisition and use of Level-3 satellite data products for sea surface temperature, ocean wind speed and sea surface height.  

A central goal of the course is to develop good python programming skills that are needed to make effective use of satellite data to routinely monitor ocean conditions, gain new insights into ocean dynamics, and to rigorously test new hypotheses.  Participants will work with both Jupyter Notebooks and executing python scripts from the Unix Terminal.         

For more information about the training workshop content and enrollment process:
Visit:   http://oceanography.eas.cornell.edu/satellite

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NASA Sponsored Workshop on Calibration and Validation of Ocean Color Remote Sensing

NASA's Ship-Aircraft Bio-Optical Research (SABOR)

University of Maine would like to invite applicants to the 2025 offering of the University of Maine’s long-running, hands-on optical oceanography graduate training course, “Calibration and Validation of Ocean Color Remote Sensing.”

The course will meet from May 18-Jun 14 2025, at UMaine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine, USA.

Course elements will include:

  • Lectures on the basic theory of the light interaction with matter in aquatic environments;
    ocean color remote sensing and its inversion; optical sensor design and function; optical
    approaches to ocean biogeochemistry; and computation and propagation of measurement
    uncertainties
  • Laboratory sessions for hands-on work with optical instrumentation and training in
    radiative transfer software
  • Field sampling of optical and biogeochemical variables in the environmentally diverse
    waters of coastal Maine
  • Analysis of optical and biogeochemical data sets
  • Collaborative student projects

Applications are requested by February 15, 2025.

For full information, and instructions to apply, please visit: https://dmc.umaine.edu/2024/11/21/nasa-sponsored-workshop-on-calibration-and-validation-of-ocean-color-remote-sensing/

Ocean shore lighthouse Portland, Maine
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Observation technique about blue carbon

Summary

This training course will focus on raising the knowledge on the monitoring, assessment, and accounting of marine blue carbon. And also the related instrumentation and calibration of some biogeochemical parameters are the main content of the training course. The course will use case studies relevant for the Western Pacific.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the participants should:

  • Have a comprehensive understanding of the monitoring and assessment of coastal blue carbon.
  • Be able to explain the role of connotation, Classification, and Accounting of Marine Carbon Sequestration.
  • Be familiar with the instrumentation and calibration of some biogeochemical parameters.

Target audience and prerequisites

Include, but are not limited to, the following researchers and management staff on marine ecological observation, who deal with biogeochemical parameter measurements and instrumentation.

Language of instruction: English

Course content

Day 1 The monitoring and assessment of coastal blue carbon

Day 2 Connotation, Classification, and Accounting of Marine Carbon Sequestration

Day 3-5 Instrumentation and calibration of some biogeochemical parameters (dissolved oxygen and pH in seawater for example)

  • utilization and maintenance of dissolved oxygen and pH instruments/sensors
  • calibration of dissolved oxygen and pH sensors for seawater use in a lab
  • calibration method of multi-parameter compensation for optical dissolved oxygen sensor in seawater

Instructors

Yu Jianqing – National Center Of Ocean Standards And Metrology

Shi Chaoying – National Center Of Ocean Standards And Metrology

Chen Luzhen – Xiamen University

Liu Dahai – Renmin University of China 

Zhao yumei – National Ocean Technology Center

Zhang yingying – Institute of Marine Instrumentation, Shandong Academy of Sciences

Learner assessment and certificate

Assessment will be done through (online) quizzes.

Successful completion of the assignments (passmark: 75%) and active attendance of all of the synchronous sessions will be needed to be awarded a certificate of completion

Technology requirements

To complete this course, you should have access to:

  • Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, web browsers
  • Access to internet
  • Firewalls must be disabled in order to be able to attend the synchronous live sessions

Notes

Course Duration, Synchronous Sessions, and Format

The course will take place online between November 25 to 29, 2024, with a duration of approximately 20 hours.

This is a 20-hour training course that will run online between 25-29 Nov 2024, including 3 (daily) synchronous sessions to be held between 13-16 pm (UTC+8) using BigBlueButton web conferencing platform.

The course includes 15 hours of synchronous work (content and discussion) plus 5 hours of individual asynchronous work for completion of assessments.

Application process and selection criteria

A limited number of seats (45) are available. Please complete the online application form available on this LINK. The applications start 01 October 2024. The deadline to submit the application is 31 October 2024  (23:59 CET: Central European Time).

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

The Selecting Committee will be set up by the hosts (NCOSM and NMDIS), which will comprise the course coordinator, organizers, and lecturers. Selection criteria include the applicant’s academic background, professional experience/duties (such as marine observation, blue carbon and ecosystem data management), and how the applicant will be able to apply the new knowledge acquired. Priority will be given to participants from the West Pacific

Contacts

Costs

Free of charge. There are no tuition fees.

The instructors will give the course voluntarily with support from NCOSM.

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.

Source: https://oceanexpert.org/event/4071?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=oceanexpert_notifications#overview

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Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences 2025 (XMAS 2025)

Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences 2025 (XMAS 2025) will be held from January 14th to 17th, 2025 in Xiamen, China. It is organized by the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL), Xiamen University and Department of Earth Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Furthermore, for the first time, the symposium will be co-sponsored by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). 

XMAS 2025 will consist of interdisciplinary cutting-edged sessions covering physical, chemical, and biological oceanography as well as marine pollution. In addition, workshops on emerging topics in marine environmental sciences such as ocean-based carbon removal, ocean governance and sustainability, the marine economy, marine education and outreach, and special sessions on Women in Science and mentoring future scientists will also be offered.

The Local Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that XMAS 2025 is open for abstract submission. Please submit your abstract online via: https://melmeeting.xmu.edu.cn/xmas/

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Ocean Biogeochemistry Research Assistant Vacancy

view of three people surfing

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is seeking a highly talented and motivated lab and field Ocean Biogeochemistry Research Assistant.  The successful candidate will join the Ocean Ecology Laboratory (Code 616) at GSFC (https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/) and perform core functions to ensure the quality of field and lab measurements used to develop and evaluate NASA’s multi-mission ocean color satellite data products.  The missions supported include NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission (https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov/). PACE is a NASA Earth-observing satellite mission designed to advance global remote sensing of ocean biology and biogeochemistry (ocean color), as well as aerosol and cloud optical properties.  This is an onsite position located at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD. The selected candidate will work with a team of accomplished scientists and software developers.

The Biogeochemistry Research Assistant supports the Ocean Ecology Laboratory/NASA in the collection, laboratory analysis, processing, evaluation, and quality control of biogeochemical and inherent optical properties field measurements.

For more detailed information about the position and the qualifications required, please refer to the following job posting:

Ocean Biogeochemistry Research Assistant

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Ocean Colour Remote Sensing – Data, Processing and Analysis [blended course]

Date: 27 November – 08 December 2023

Course description:

Ocean colour analysis is a proven tool for determining the health of ocean using oceanic biological activity through optical means. Phytoplankton pigment, chlorophyll, are indicators of equilibrium of CO2 concentration between atmosphere and ocean. The oceanic colour changes due to chlorophyll a provides the level of primary productivity whereas the colour change due to CDOM can be attributed to the level of pollution and higher particulate matter. The ability of optical sensors to map the spatial and temporal patterns of ocean colour over regional and global scales has provided important insights into the fundamental bio-optical properties and bio-physical processes occurring in the aquatic media. Chlorophyll, SST and PAR can be operationally scaled up to estimate primary production and estimate the fish stocks. This training focuses on the basics of marine optics, ocean colour remote sensing, and its applications such as mapping primary productivity, phytoplankton classes and algal blooms. 

Application process:

You can apply until 20  september 2023  

https://oceanexpert.org/event/3969

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as email subject.

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IOC/OTGA/NMDIS/NCOSM: Marine Information Technologies Training

Course Description

Introduce the cutting-edge ocean data management strategies, methods and tools at global and regional levels, share experience in ocean data and information technology development and application in China, inspire discussion on the role of information technologies in realizing the sustainable development goals for the ocean.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this training, learners will be able to: 

  • Knowledge of the status and trends of international ocean data management.
  • Better understanding of the status and importance of ocean data in the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
  • Improved skills of integrated ocean data management and ocean information R&D.

Course Content

Ocean data management within the IODE framework, application of marine data in the era of big data and China practice, marine spatial planning, monsoon and its social and ecological impacts, marine dual evaluation key technology and practice, calibration of wave buoys in a lab and the practices on their in-situ comparison/test, how to measure the contribution and function of the ocean economy, etc.

Instructors

Target Audience

  • Research personnel: those who are engaging in ocean science and ocean management research in universities or research institutes for more than 2 years, and have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • Government employee: those who are engaging in ocean science research and/or ocean management for the government for more than 2 years, and have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Language of instruction: English

Learner Assessment

Learners will be assessed through a final course report based on the training content.

Certificate

A certificate will be issued to those who finish all modules of the training and submit their final course report.

Technology requirements/computer skills

Access to stable internet, a laptop or desktop available, basic computer skills, speakers and microphone for Q&A and open discussion.

Application Period:

20 February-31 March 2023

Notes

Course Duration and Format

The course will take place online between 15th and 30th of May 2023, with an estimated duration/workload of 28 hours. 

Synchronous sessions

The synchronous sessions are tentatively planned as follows:

– Monday, 15 May 2023

– Wednesday, 17 May 2023

– Friday, 19 May 2023

– Monday, 22 May 2023

– Wednesday, 24 May 2023

– Friday, 26 May 2023

The live sessions will be for 3 hours. Recordings of the live sessions will also be provided to participants who might experience internet challenges or might not make to join the live sessions.

Application Process

Please complete the oline application form available on this LINK.

The deadline to submit the aaplication is 31 March 2023  (23:59 CET: Central European Time). There are no tuition fees.

UNESCO is committed to promote equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Selection process/criteria (25 seats available):

  • Early career professionals of ocean science and ocean management from the WESTPAC region
  • at least a bachelor’s degree
  • a good command of English

Contacts

In case of questions please contact the Course Coordinator and the OTGA Secretariat always using the name of the course as email subject.

Cancellation policy:

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.

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Summer Satellite Remote Sensing Training Course


June 5 – June 16, 2023, Cornell University, Ithaca New York
After a 3-year hiatus due to the covid pandemic, the Cornell University Summer Satellite Remote Sensing Training Program is being offered once again.  This program is intended for marine scientists who have modest or no prior experience with satellite remote sensing techniques. The program is highly methods-oriented and intended to give participants the practical skills needed to work independently to acquire, analyze and visualize large data sets derived from a wide range of ocean satellite sensors.  

Strong emphasis is given to ocean color remote sensing and the use of NASA’s SeaDAS software to derive mapped imagery of geophysical parameters (e.g., chlorophyll or CDOM) derived from the Earth science data available through NASA’s Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC).  Pre-written python scripts will be used in conjunction with SeaDAS to batch process large quantities of ocean color data from Level-1 to Level-3. 

Developing good Python programming skills needed for data analysis and visualization is a central component of this course.  The course also addresses the acquisition and use of Level-3 satellite data products for sea surface temperature, ocean wind speed and sea surface height.  

NOTE:  The Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Program (OCB) at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has offered to provide financial support for up to five highly qualified participants to this training program. Applying for OCB support is done independent of the satellite program enrollment process. See the OCB link below for details.

For more information about the training program content and enrollment process:
Visit:      http://oceanography.eas.cornell.edu/satellite
Email:   Bruce Monger (bcm3@cornell.edu)

For information about OCB financial support:
Visit:,  OCB Tuition Support
Email: Heather Benway (hbenway@whoi.edu)