IN FOCUS: Student Chapters Make a Difference
By Joanne Van Voorhis
GRSS has long recognized the value to students of membership and actively supports 94 Student Chapters around the globe. These Chapters play a crucial role in student academic and professional development by encouraging networking, collaboration, and volunteerism. Active members learn about cutting edge research, participate in hands-on projects, attend workshops, and connect with industry professionals, faculty, and peers. Professional networking can open the doors to internships, jobs, and mentorships, and can lead to early publication opportunities. Most importantly, chapters serve as thriving communities where students are encouraged to make the most of their university experience while considering and preparing for career options.
Expanding Skills and Connectivity
Dr. Chengxi Han, Wuhan Student Branch Chapter Chair and Student Chapter Coordinator on the IEEE GRSS Administrative Committee, explains how Student Chapter involvement impacted him. “It had a profound impact on my personal growth, especially in the areas of research, leadership, and career development. By organizing technical lectures and seminars, I was exposed to many cutting-edge topics which expanded my research direction so it more closely met the needs of practical applications.”
Han also expressed that managing the Student Branch helped him learn how to coordinate a team, manage projects, plan activities, and improve his communication and decision-making skills. These skills are exactly those that GRSS is hoping to foster through its ongoing support of Student Chapters, which includes mentorship, event sponsorships, travel grants, competitions, plus management, activity, and budgetary guidance. GRSS wants every Student Chapter to thrive and succeed.
Top Student Chapter Honors
In 2024, the GRSS Student Branch Chapter at IIT Indore was honored with the Student Chapter Excellence Award. Mr. Lekhraj Saini, former Chair of the IEEE GRSS Student Branch Chapter at IIT Indore, described what set the Chapter apart. “We embraced a proactive approach. We introduced new initiatives that engaged students, encouraged participation, and provided valuable learning experiences. Members worked as a team to pitch, plan, and host a range of fun events such as hackathons, quizzes, engaging workshops, expert talks, and hands-on sessions.”
Innovation in chapter activities is a hallmark of a successful Chapter. For example, the Indore chapter also swiftly transitioned to online events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Saini explained that “senior members organized several online technical talks to ensure continuous learning despite the restrictions. These sessions played a crucial role in keeping students connected with the latest advancements in geoscience and remote sensing, even when in-person activities were not possible.”
Membership Supports Career Prospects and Growth
Active students are well aware that membership in a professional organization, such as GRSS, is looked upon favorably by potential employers and can also be an asset when applying for advanced degrees. Involvement shows a commitment to the field and encourages collaboration and strong leadership skills.
Students who were active with their Student Chapters often continue their relationship with GRSS when embarking on their careers. “Many of the students in our chapter remain GRSS members after graduation,” says Dr. Han. “This is because GRSS provides a wealth of career development resources, including career coaching, mentorship programs, online training courses, and more, to help graduates successfully enter academia or industry. GRSS members can also enjoy discounts on top remote sensing journals and conferences, which is very important for scientific researchers who wish to continue their deep research in remote sensing.”
New Chapter Development Tips
If there is not yet a GRSS Student Chapter in your area, why not start one? Dr. Han suggests that a passionate core team is the key to success. “The team members need to be genuinely interested in remote sensing science and GRSS,” he notes. He also emphasizes the importance of connecting with a Faculty Advisor who knows how to support chapter development – one who will not only provide academic and industry resources, but also play a key role in connecting the new Chapter with the overall university and with GRSS headquarters.
Successful Chapters are adept at attracting students from many disciplines and at different stages in their degree work. Dr. Han recommends that new chapters with lower budgets host small low-cost events to start – such as technical lectures and paper reading sessions – and then gradually expand to larger academic seminars or data contests. He also suggests exploring creative communication channels like social media to encourage both student and faculty participation. “It is well worth the work you have to put in,” Han adds. “The benefits for students, faculty, and volunteers who support Student Chapters are lifelong and deeply impactful.”
Connections…
Find a GRSS Student Chapter near you or explore how to set up a new Student Chapter.
