IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - September 2017 - 75

observations. A more robust discussion about observational experiment design across the geosciences will improve
the quality of observations and advance our knowledge of
the Earth system.
What we often forget is that science is performed by
human beings; thus, it is inextricably linked to a social
context. Overcoming the cultural and social impediments
to geoscience will further advances in the field, particularly
with respect to understanding the dynamic Earth system as
an integrated whole. This might be the most difficult obstacle to overcome of all those highlighted, which is why
we cannot say for certain that geoscience will be able to
address future challenges and opportunities. Perhaps the
cultural tipping point is nearly upon us.
There are clear benefits to a social transformation in the
conduct of science; it will lead to more productive and capable individuals and institutions. This synergistic integration of geoscience is necessary to provide counsel for the
greater good of society. Geoscience must earn the future,
because the Earth system changes and society's responses
cannot wait.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Yuqi Bai (yuqibai@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn) received his
M.S degree in geographic information systems (GIS) in
2000 from the China University of Geosciences, Beijing,
and his Ph.D. degree in cartography and GIS from the
Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, in 2003. His research interests
include the use of technologies for geospatial big data
management and analytics, geospatial service discovery
and integration, high-performance geospatial computing, and standards and policies for large-scale geospatial
data sharing and information integration. He is with the
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System
Modeling, Center for Earth System Science, Tsinghua
University and the China/Joint Center for Global Change
Studies in Beijing, China.
Clifford A. Jacobs (caj2014llc@gmail.com) received his
B.S. degree in 1965 in mathematics and his M.S. degree
in oceanography, both from Texas A&M University. He received his Ph.D. degree in oceanography in 1976 from New
York University. He was at the National Science Foundation
for 30 years, with oversight responsibilities in geoscience
and computer sciences. He has research experience in modeling and data analysis. He is retired from the National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia.
Mei-Po Kwan (mkwan@illinois.edu) received her
B.SoSci. degree in 1985 in geography from the Chinese
University of Hong Kong, her M.S. degree in urban planning in 1989 from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Ph.D. degree in geography in 1994 from
the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research
interests include environmental health, sustainable cities,

SEPTEMBER 2017

IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING MAGAZINE

human mobility, and the application of geospatial technologies and geoscience and computer science methods
in geographic and health research. She is with the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the
Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning at
Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Christoph Waldmann (waldmann@marum.de) received
his intermediate diploma in physics from the University of
Munich in 1977, his diploma degree in physics from the
University of Kiel in 1981, and his Ph.D. degree in physics
in 1985 from the University of Kiel. His research interests
include the development of new methods of efficient, longterm observation of processes in the sea using a range of
techniques from hydroacoustic methods and instruments
to optical methods for measuring basic parameters in the
water column from mobile and stationary observation
platforms. He is with the Center for Marine Environmental
Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany.
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GRS

https://www.spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/28/europes-sentinel-satel http://www.soundwaves.usgs https://www.eos.org/project-updates/visualizing-the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ https://www.earthcube.org/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - September 2017