ATS Seminar Series: Rahul Ramachandran

The Advanced Technologies Section (ATS) of the National Center for Computational Sciences at ORNL is a world leader in developing and deploying scientific and technical solutions for leadership-class computing environments. The R&D activities of ATS are organized around designing and deploying leadership class systems, developing artificial intelligence solutions for science and smart facilities of the future, and stewardship of data and workflows at scale to enable science. The ATS Seminar Series is a forum for learning from experts and engaging with collaborators to advance their scientific mission.

Seminar Title:

Making an IMPACT: From Open Data to Open Science

Since the TIROS-1 weather satellite launch in 1960, the availability of Earth observation and satellite remote sensing data has expanded significantly. The increased availability of Earth observation data has bolstered Earth science research and has provided new data for decision making and other societal applications. As the owner of the single largest open access repository of heterogeneous Earth observation data, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is committed to investing the effort and resources needed to ensure these data remain and will continue to remain available to all users. NASA’s data archives have been very successful in upholding this commitment to the scientific research community. However, NASA’s Earth Science Data System (ESDS) Program recognizes that new strategies are needed to continue to meet the research community’s needs and encourage the use of Earth observation data by a broader user base. First, there is a need to adapt to the rapid improvements in technology that are changing how data is managed, distributed, and archived. Second, there is an ongoing need to improve the discovery, access, and use of NASA’s Earth observation data beyond the scientific research community. Third, it must be recognized that the open sharing of data, information, and knowledge is fundamental to the understanding and success of scientific research within the scientific community and the broader public.

The ESDS Program established the Inter-Agency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) Project at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to address these needs. IMPACT focuses on three areas:

1. Building partnerships with other Federal agencies, the applications communities, decision-makers, NGOs, and other organizations to encourage the adoption of NASA’s Earth observation data into the workflows and operational models;
2. Enhancing NASA’s existing data infrastructure, tools, and services to promote broader use of NASA’s data for all users; and
3. Enabling technology and innovation to lower the barriers to entry associated with using complex Earth observation data.

This talk will present an overview of NASA’s ESDS Program and the IMPACT Project and its portfolio. It will also describe the concept of open science and how data programs can play a pivotal role in accelerating the path to open science.

Speaker:

Rahul Ramachandran, Ph.D.

Project Manager, IMPACT Project

Dr. Rahul Ramachandran is a senior research scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). His research centers on Earth science informatics and data science, focusing on applying novel computational methods and information technology to the processing, discovery, analysis, and visualization of Earth science data and information. In addition, Dr. Ramachandran manages the Inter-Agency Implementation and Advanced Concepts (IMPACT) team at NASA/MSFC. IMPACT supports the Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program to expand open science through innovation, partnerships, and technology.

Dr. Ramachandran has written over 75 peer-reviewed publications, including four book chapters and over 150 other scientific publications. He has served as the deputy editor for the Earth Science Informatics Journal (Springer), the guest editor for the Computer and Geosciences Journal (Elsevier). He currently serves on the editorial board for CODATA’s Data Science Journal.

Dr. Ramachandran received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) award in 2009 and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2018. He is also a senior IEEE member.

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