IN FOCUS: Empowering the Next Generation of GRSS Professionals

By Joanne Van Voorhis

GRSS is strongly committed to supporting the needs of Young Professionals (YPs), early-career members who are generally in their first decade or so of contributions to the field. Through a range of programs, GRSS volunteers help ensure that early career members are well-equipped with the skills and confidence they need for a rewarding career and can contribute in a significant way to the evolving fields of geoscience and remote sensing.

Dedicated Young Professionals Committee

At the heart of GRSS’s support structure for early-career members is its Young Professionals Committee. These dedicated volunteers work to identify the needs of YPs and create tailored initiatives to support their development around the globe. The YP program organizes activities that promote both skills growth and community building through conference sessions, career development webinars, industry panels, leadership training sessions, networking and other events.

“Our goal is to provide guidance, foster early career experiences, and help YP members advance their professional skills,” explains Dr. Mehmet Ogut, who Chairs the GRSS YP Program and works at the NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory Advanced RF and Optical Technologies Group. On a personal level, Dr. Ogut is dedicated to giving back to the GRSS community. “YP programs mean a great deal to me. I know first hand that there are many challenges one has to face in early career stages, so the committee and I really try hard to develop programs that can help others successfully navigate their own early career journeys,” Ogut says.

Support That Bridges Technical Focus Areas

Because the YP program bridges all the technical areas within GRSS, the YP scope of work is also very broad. Resources and activities must have value for a YP working in any GRSS area of technical focus. The YP group collaborates with other overarching GRSS services to develop events and resources to augment crossover services such as conferences, summer schools, educational programs, and publications.

“We collaborate as much as we can with other GRSS initiatives to identify ways to reach and support YPs,” says Ogut. “At this year’s IGARSS, for example, we have many sessions that will be valuable to YPs, from skills workshops to career panels to our popular YP Social Mixer…there is something for everyone and we know from experience the real impact these events have on early career growth and confidence.”

Conferences, Connections, and Collaboration

The skills developed through attending YP workshops such as the popular presentation skills workshop at IGARSS, can help participants develop the confidence and skills to successfully explain their research to a large crowd in a concise and clear manner. There is also a publishing session where journal editors, reviewers, and authors share their tips on navigating the publication process.

Also planned is a Speed Mentoring Lunch, supported by the Women Mentoring Women program by IDEA and the Mentorship Program by YP. This fun event gives attendees a chance to connect and network with mentors and mentees in short sessions. There is also a “Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) Competition” where students are challenged to describe their thesis within three minutes to a non-specialist audience with one static slide. At IGARSS, ten finalists will present and be evaluated by a panel of experts who will select three winners.

“We think that everyone who participates in 3MT is a winner, as the process of participating in the competition itself is quite valuable. It’s a challenge to prepare a short submission that effectively summarizes one’s work in layman terms – preparing a strong three minute presentation is not easy. Just joining in the competition is a good learning experience” Ogut explains. “Through everything we do, we strive to support YPs so they can present research confidently, convey their work to a crowd, give an efficient, effective speech, and also know how to create and prepare a publishable paper,” he adds.

But the YP team recognises that not everyone can arrange travel to IGARSS, so there are many regional and online events, including hybrid meetups, regional congresses, global webinars, and local chapter events such as hackathons and mixers. “Joining in YP events is helpful on many levels,” explains Ogut. “Online or regional events provide opportunities to collaborate virtually, and also facilitate connections with cohorts and senior management. For an early career person, the opportunity to connect with highly experienced GRSS professionals and GRSS leadership can make a huge impact on their career.”

The Value of Mentorship

The GRSS YP program also actively supports mentorship through structured initiatives that connect early-career professionals with experienced mentors in the geoscience and remote sensing fields. Programs like the Rise Up Mentorship Program and Women Mentoring Women offer personalized guidance, career advice, and technical development across diverse backgrounds and regions. “Mentoring experiences often serve as the basis for long-term professional relationships – which can have broader positive impacts on Geoscience and Remote Sensing programs and applications,” explains Dr. Ogut. GRSS supports the pairing process and works to support partnerships so that everyone involved has a rewarding experience. “Mentorship is a transformative journey that can offer profound advantages to both mentor and mentee – and the larger research community as a whole. You never know what breakthrough will surface because of the connections we make through our mentoring efforts,” Ogut adds.

Encouraging Global Networking and Outreach

IEEE GRSS fosters an inclusive and global YP community, with active regional and local chapter activities that engage at all career levels. Local GRSS chapters often collaborate with YP groups to host technical talks and community outreach events. These activities not only enhance technical knowledge but also allow YPs to build local and international connections.

YPs are also encouraged to volunteer if they have the time to gain experience and network. In addition to the new IEEE Volunteering platform that streamlines the process of suggesting or applying for volunteering opportunities, YPs are encouraged to stay connected via YP’s social media channels and website for announcements and meaningful opportunities.

Recognition and Leadership Opportunities

GRSS strives to promote leadership skills by encouraging YP involvement in Society governance and technical committees. Many dedicated volunteers begin their service as student representatives or committee members, eventually taking on larger leadership roles. Plus, to celebrate the contributions of its YPs, GRSS presents several awards and honors, such as the GRSS Early Career Award that recognizes young scientists and engineers who have demonstrated outstanding ability and promise for significant contributions in the future. 

In 2024 for example, the award was presented to Ming-Liang Tao (Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China) to highlight his contributions to Spaceborne SAR technology, remote sensing spectrum management, and radio frequency interference mitigation. Dr. Tao currently serves as the co-chair of IEEE GRSS Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing Technical Committee.

Participate in the YP Community

By offering targeted support, development opportunities, and a global platform for collaboration, IEEE GRSS works hard to ensure that young professionals are not only integrated into the community but also positioned as future leaders in geoscience and remote sensing. To find out how you can participate, reach out to a YP Team member. We look forward to hearing from you!