by Mary Joy Buitre (Star Gazers ’08)

Lecture Series on Remote Sensing Applications by Joey Comiso (Honorary Member ’10)
October 9 and October 10, 2012
Marine Science Institute
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

It was a very fortunate experience for the young Varrons to be able to meet Josefino “Joey “Comiso (Honorary Member ’10) for the first time. Joey is a physicist who works at the Earth Sciences Directorate at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, USA. He is currently under the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines. This program aims to reach out Filipino scientists abroad and make them share their knowledge and expertise of their chosen field to the young Filipinos here in our country. As part of this program, Joey Comiso conducted a one and a half day lecture series on Remote Sensing Applications. Young Varrons that were able to attend the said lectures were Mary Joy “Joyee” Buitre (Star Gazers’ 08), Amisol “Sol” Bagonghasa (Bituin ’02), and Jhonber “John” Castillo (V-TEC7). Joyee, who works at the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Developmen (PCIEERD) of the DOST, helped in inviting participants to attend the lecture series. Both Sol and John work at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Joey Comiso (center) with Sol and Joyee (right)

Joey Comiso (center) with Sol and Joyee (right)

Joey Comiso with Sol and John (right)

Joey Comiso with Sol and John (right)

A lot of remote sensing enthusiasts attended the lectures. There were students of different degrees and professionals from various fields who use remote sensing applications in their work. The lecture series was divided into three topics, namely: Lecture 1 – Introduction to Satellite Remote Sensing and Applications; Lecture 2 – Land Remote Sensing Using AMSR2: Rainfall, soil moisture, and flooding; and Lecture 3 – Ocean Remote Sensing: SST, Salinity, Sea Surface Height and Wind Speed.

Joey Comiso impressively discussed to the participants the vast applications of the use of remote sensing and is very accommodating in answering the questions from his audience. He encouraged the young participants to maximize the use of these technologies to study our environment. He emphasized at the beginning of his lecture that “we only have one world to live in … let’s make ways on how to take care of it not only for us but for the future generations.”

In addition to his numerous achievements, Joey Comiso is currently the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the newly created Philippine Remote Sensing Society. Membership for the society will be opened by 2013.

Last Updated on October 12, 2016 by Tudla_Admin