Lead Institution: City College of the City University of New York (Hispanic Serving Institution)
Academic Partners: Lehman College, New York City College of Technology, Bronx Community College, Hampton University, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, University of Maryland at Baltimore County and Bowie State University
NOAA Collaborative Research Partner: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Other NOAA Research Partners: National Weather Service and National Ocean Service
Education Focus: Student education and training through research that focuses on all aspects of remote sensing, including: sensor development, satellite remote sensing, ground-based field measurements, data processing and analysis, modeling and forecasting.
The focus of CREST is to increase the number of educated, trained and graduated students from underrepresented communities in NOAA related science and technology. The Center’s research and training focuses on all aspects of remote sensing including: sensor development for environmental monitoring, satellite remote sensing of atmosphere and land, ground-based field measurements, data processing and analysis, modeling and forecasting. CREST’s research and training has three main thrust areas: (1) Remote sensing application for climate and air quality; (2) Remote sensing of coastal waters; and, (3) Application of satellite remote sensing in precipitation and water resources. CREST is an outstanding example of partnership between a Federal agency and academic institutions to educate and train students in the field of environmental remote sensing by conducting research consistent with NOAA’s goals and mission. The recruitment and training focuses on mentoring undergraduate, masters and doctoral students into scientific and engineering disciplines in which they can specialize in remote sensing. The program includes seminars, summer internships with NOAA and industrial partners and school-year research assistantships.
CREST has two primary goals: (1) to build and demonstrate an institutional capacity to conduct cutting edge research in remote sensing science and technology in line with NOAA’s mission goals; and, (2) to recruit, mentor and train increasing numbers of undergraduate and graduate students particularly from underrepresented communities in science, engineering and technology in areas of relevance to NOAA. Through these two goals, CREST aims to provide a diverse and well-trained future workforce for NOAA, NOAA contractors, other Federal agencies, NOAA stakeholders, academia and to develop a recruitment pipeline of students from high school through college levels and doctoral programs.
