IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - December 2019 - 58

Dr. Sarah Graves, coordinator
of the Environmental Observation and Informatics Master of
Science program in the Nelson
Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Source: Dr. Sarah
Graves; used with permission.)

Dr. Marta Yebra, senior
scientist at the Fenner School
of Environment and Society
and a mission specialist in the
Institute for Space, both at the
Australian National University.
(Source: Dr. Marta Yebra; used
with permission.)

and mission specialist with the Institute for Space, both
at the Australian National University, whose lecture was
"Contributing to Scientific Excellence Through Engagement With Publications and Proposal Reviews: Take It or
Leave It?" Yebra's research focuses on using remote sensing
data to monitor, quantify, and forecast natural resources,
natural hazards, and landscape function and health. She
is also an associate editor for Remote Sensing of Environment.
Her thoughts on work-life balance and the importance of
peer review were also featured in the June 2019 "Women in
GRSS" column [1] and she brought much of the same perspective to share as part of her participation in the Women
in GRSS Forum at IGARSS 2019.
Following these first contributions, the forum then
turned from career examples based in the academic sector (with professor, researcher, and coordinator profiles) to
industry examples of successful STEM careers. Julie Baker,
cofounder and chief operating officer of Ursa Space, delivered the presentation "Growing As a Leader: Managing
From Your Strengths and Confronting Your Weaknesses."
She shared perspectives from 30 years of experience in the
software industry, including 15 years in engineering and
technical management.
Dr. Qian Zhan, a Chinese researcher and member of the
IDEA Committee was most impressed by Baker's speech
tracing "her extraordinary experiences from a high school
music teacher to a software engineer, then to a cofounder in
a high-tech company." From this presentation and an earlier
conversation they had, Dr. Zhan said Baker's story demonstrates that, if the first step in the career does not satisfy you,
you do not need hang there miserably but can change the
direction. "What an inspiring message!"
Baker was followed by Dr. Kimberly Scott, cofounder
and vice president of Data Science at Astraea. Her presentation, "Think Like a Scientist, Act Like a CEO: How to Develop Business Acumen in STEM Industries," reflected on
her 16 years of experience in creative problem solving by
leveraging data, machine learning, and best practices in scientific methodology.
The Women in GRSS luncheon, at its eighth consecutive IGARSS in 2019, immediately followed the Women in

Julie Baker, cofounder and chief
operating officer of Ursa Space.
(Source: Julie Baker; used with
permission.)

Dr. Kimberly Scott, cofounder and
vice president of Data Science
of Astraea. (Source: Dr. Kimberly
Scott; used with permission.)

Forum panel (seated) with moderator Kevin Corbley (left) discussing selected topics about women in STEM and fielding questions
and comments from the audience at the Women in GRSS Forum.
(Source: GRSS Social Media Team and IGARSS 2019 Publicity Team.)

leaders in using observational
data to address pressing enviGRAVES'S WORK AS
ronmental issues.
COORDINATOR FOCUSES ON
D r. G rave s g race f u l ly
RECRUITING AND TRAINING
summed up her experience in
STUDENTS TO BECOME
the forum: "Participating on
LEADERS IN USING
the panel was an incredibly
OBSERVATIONAL DATA TO
valuable experience. I am in
ADDRESS PRESSING
the early stages of my career
and in a position that looked
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
very different from many conference participants. I think it's
important to acknowledge and
recognize not all careers end in being a tenured professor. I
was proud and honored to be part of a panel highlighting different specialties, paths, and backgrounds of women in this
field and will take this information with me in training a new
generation of geospatial and remote sensing professionals."
Concluding the forum was Dr. Marta Yebra, senior scientist at the Fenner School of Environment and Society

IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2019

IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - December 2019