Turning Research Into Real World Impact

Webinar Speaker:

Catherine Nakalembe

Affiliation:

University of Maryland, USA

  • 19 August 2026
  • 3:00 PM UTC
  • Sponsored by IEEE GRSS
  • IDEA Webinar
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About the Webinar

Groundbreaking research has the greatest value when it moves beyond publications to create meaningful change in society. But how do we bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application?

Join us for an inspiring IEEE GRSS IDEA Webinar featuring Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland and Africa Program Director for NASA Harvest. Through her pioneering work in Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and food security, Dr. Nakalembe has transformed cutting-edge research into operational solutions that support governments, humanitarian organizations, and millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.

In this webinar, she will share insights from her career journey, discuss how researchers can maximize the societal impact of their work, and highlight the importance of collaboration, leadership, and capacity building in developing sustainable geospatial solutions. Whether you are a student, researcher, or professional, this session will provide practical guidance and inspiration on building a career that creates lasting impact.

 

About the Speaker

Dr. Catherine Nakalembeis an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland and serves as the Africa Program Director for NASA Harvest, NASA’s global food security and agriculture program. She is also the Agriculture and Food Security Thematic Lead for the NASA SERVIR Applied Sciences Team. Her research focuses on the application of Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to agriculture, food security, climate resilience, and humanitarian decision-making across Africa. Dr. Nakalembe has led the development of operational satellite-based agricultural monitoring and early warning systems that support governments and humanitarian organizations in improving food security and disaster preparedness. A passionate advocate for capacity building, she works extensively to strengthen Earth observation expertise across Africa through research, training, and international collaboration. She is the recipient of numerous international honors, including the 2020 Africa Food Prize, the 2019 GEO Individual Excellence Award, Uganda’s Golden Jubilee Gold Medal, and the 2024 University of Maryland Early Career Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to advancing satellite technology for sustainable development and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

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