IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - June 2013 - 89

(SURREY, the Surveyors Council of Nigeria [SURCON],
European Space Imaging and The French Embassy in
Morocco) and Moroccan Sponsors (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Morocco, Province of El Jadida, Conseil Régionale Abda-Doukkala, Conseil Provinciale El Jadida,
Conseil Municipal El Jadida, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique [CNRS] and Ministère
de L'Enseignement Supèrieur de la Recherche Scientifique et de la Formation des Cadres).
◗ A total of 20 exhibitors (ESRI, RCMRD-Kenya, Astrium-France, SA-GEO-Switzerland, Solution MappingUK, Trimble-USA, GeoSystem-France, Vito-Belgium,
CRTS-Morocco, SURREY-UK, AARSE-SA, SFPT-France,
SACANEX-Russia, IEEE-GRSS-Australia, SatpaldaIndia, Southern Mapping-SA, EIS-Africa-SA, RapidEyeGermany and GEOEye-USA.
◗ 10 Keynote Speakers: T. Woldai (AARSE EC Member),
Ms. Aida Opoku Mensah-Director ISTD, UNECA, Dr.
Barbara J. Ryan-GEO Director, Prof. Tony Milne-Past
Pres. IEEE-GRSS, Dr. Seidu Mohammed [Director General, NASRDA], Dr. Mecheline Tabache [Administratoe
ESA], Prof. Laurent Polidori [President of SEPT], Dr. Johan Stessens [Manager, RS Dept, Vito], Prof. Massimo
Mementi [Delft Univ. of Technology] and Dr. Driss El
Hadani [Director, CNRS].
◗ The conference included three pre/post workshops and
three side events associated with the EU-GMES, GEO
and ESRI programmes, an ice-breaker and a gala dinner
offered by AARSE.
◗ The Conference involved several awards: One AARSE
highest achievement Award, five Presidential Citation
Awards, Seven AARSE-IEEE/GRSS Travel Fellowship
Award, Three AARSE-European Space Agency Award for
best papers and posters, one ESRI "Making a Difference
in Africa" award and one AARSE Certificate to the LOC.
Two Major Awards to Dr. Tsehaie Woldai:
◗ In the opening ceremony, AARSE President Prof. Kufonyi
presented the AARSE Achievement Award to Dr. Woldai.

Professor Kufoniyi presents the AARSE Achievement Award to TW
on the opening ceremony.
JUNE 2013

ieee Geoscience and remote sensing magazine

It is the highest award given by AARSE and in its 20 years
history has been given only to three distinguished scientists and one institution. In giving this award to Dr.
Woldai, the Prof. Kufoniyi
recognized the dedication
and importance played by
AARSE, with moRE
Dr. Woldai in nurturing and
thAn 1800 individuAl
shaping the association to
mEmbERS And ovER
be one of the most dynamic
and respected institution in
40 nAtionAl\
Africa. Dr. Woldai was the
intERnAtionAl
founder of the defunct AfrioRgAnizAtionAl
can Remote Sensing Society
mEmbERS iS thE
(ARSS) in 1982 and served
lARgESt SciEntific
as its most vocal representaoRgAnizAtion in
tive in international forum
thE fiEld of REmotE
until 1988. With its abolition
SEnSing And giS
in 1990, he founded AARSE
ApplicAtionS in AfRicA.
in August 1992 in Colorado,
USA and served the Association as its Secretary General,
President (2004-2010) and
immediate Past President (2010-current).
◗ Furthermore, after the opening keynote speech, Dr.
Woldai was decorated with the ESRI "Making a Difference in Africa" Award. The latter is offered once
a year by the President of ESRI to honor personality
from around the world who have impacted others and
advanced and promoted geoinformation technology
through their work. Dr. Salim Sawaya, in presenting
the award on behalf of ESRI President Dr. Jack Dangermond, emphasized the commitment and dedication shown by Dr. Woldai, in promoting Geoinformation technology in Africa and for making a difference
to many through his teaching. The nomination of
Dr. Woldai to the ESRI Award came from 79 distinguished scientists and practitioners from 56 African
and Europe institutions.

ESRI-Federal/Global Affairs Account Manager, Dr. Salim Sawaya,
presenting "making a difference in Africa" Award on behalf of ESRI
President Dr. Jack Dangermond.
89

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