“The ocean is a constantly moving fluid that houses the largest three-dimensional living space on Earth, supporting various habitats”, said Dr. Sachinanda Babu, from NASA, while inaugurating of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing (GRSS) Student chapter at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Bengaluru on 26th July. He further added, “We coexist with over 8 million species on our planet, and we are currently witnessing unprecedented global-scale changes to our Earth.

For instance, the North Atlantic is home to highly productive “forests” each spring, where carbon-rich phytoplankton blooms fuel the fisheries of New England. The clear waters around Florida host productive coral reefs and fisheries, but are at times affected by toxic phytoplankton. While today’s satellites can measure the quantity of phytoplankton at the ocean surface, they are unable to detect the diversity of species. The recently launched NASA PACE’s mission will, for the first time, help us predict the “boom or bust” of fisheries and sidentify marine hazards such as harmful algal blooms”. He encouraged students to explore these space-based observations which offers a comprehensive perspective on Earth’s resources, encompassing the atmosphere, and oceans.

 The event hosted by GRSS and ECE Department, MIT BLR aims to empower students in Geoscience and Remote Sensing. Dr. Sachidananda Babu, Technology Program Manager at the Earth Science Technology Office of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the USA was the chief guest at the event. Dr. Babu discussed NASA’s technology development efforts to support future remote sensing missions during the inaugural function.

 He said, “We are excited to officially open the MIT Bengaluru IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Student Chapter. This will act as a link between theoretical knowledge and real-world application by giving students exclusive chances to take part in research initiatives, and create ground-breaking answers to urgent problems. I urge every student to explore how Earth Observation data can be used to prepare for climate change and mitigate, adapt and respond to environmental challenges across the country”.

 “The establishment of our institution’s IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing (GRSS) Student Chapter is a significant step toward enhancing our students’ academic experiences. They will have an unmatched opportunity to learn about the cutting edge of remote sensing technology, encourage creativity, and dig into the intriguing field of geosciences with this chapter. I am eager to see how this program encourages our students to break new ground in their fields and help address global issues”, said Dr. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE BLR. 

 Dr. Ujjwal Verma, the Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engg who is also the Faculty Advisor for the IEEE GRSS Student branch, mentioned that IEEE GRSS is a technical society of IEEE, USA, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to collaborate and design tools to understand the interactions with Earth’s ecosystems, monitor environments, oceans, and ice caps, and characterize potential risks. He highlighted that the student branch at MIT BLR will organize various events on geoscience and remote sensing, including workshops/ lectures by ISRO, NASA, and ESA experts, and field visits to ISRO and DRDO facilities.

 Dr. Jagannath Korody Director, MIT BLR and Dr. Balachandra Achar, IEEE SB Advisor, MIT BLR along with other dignitaries were present at the inaugural ceremony.