NASA Scientists Draw Crowd of Nursing Students, Faculty and Researchers to Presentation on Applying Earth Science to Strengthen and Inform Health
Two scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) visited the University of Hawaii at Manoa to discuss the exciting and transformative potential of using Earth Science data to enhance health. The event was coordinated by the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) Faculty Puwalu Research Forum in collaboration with the UHM School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene (SONDH).
Speaking to a packed room on February 13, 2024, the NASA scientists described the cutting-edge technologies of the NASA Earth Action Program and how they partner with other agencies to address complex global challenges. The talk, titled “NASA Earth Action Program: Applying Earth Science to Strengthen and Inform Health,” was attended by over 80 audience members representing various disciplines.
John Haynes, MS, program manager for NASA Earth Action Program and Health and Air Quality Applications, during his talk titled “Utilizing Earth Observations to Inform Health and Air Quality Management Decisions,” described how NASA uses its fleet of more than 20 satellites and sensors in low-Earth orbit to provide real-time data about Earth’s climate, environment, and weather for research and application purposes. His presentation included what he described as “eye candy,” jaw-dropping visuals of how this technology helps partner organizations detect environmental health threats and inform health and air quality management decisions.
Dr. Helena Chapman, MD, MPH, PhD, Associate Program Manager, NASA Earth Action Program, Health and Air Quality Applications spoke on “Innovative Earth Science Applications to Strengthen Public Health Surveillance and Communication,” which described how emerging environmental health risks, such as air pollution and vector-borne disease transmission, can affect ecosystem health.
Chapman also described the One Health concept, which refers to the interconnectedness between humans, animals, and the environment, and provides a framework to promote transdisciplinary collaborations that address these complex global challenges. She discussed how Earth observation data offer innovative, real-time information for researchers and practitioners to gain insight on how these emerging environmental risks affect human and animal health. She emphasized public health applications of Earth observation data and also shared how nursing students and other health science professional students can develop their career through internship opportunities at NASA.
Mika Endo, a student in the UHM Nursing Graduate Entry Program for Nursing (GEPN), reflected on the event, “I especially enjoyed Dr. Helena Chapman’s discussion on the connection between environmental and human health. Her insights on utilizing NASA data to understand the health impact of evolving ecosystems, land use, and weather patterns empower healthcare professionals to engage in interventions beyond conventional boundaries.”
Dr. Gary Glauberman, SONDH Assistant Professor and director of the Master’s of Science Online Advanced Population Health Nursing program agreed. “For nursing students and faculty, the event represented an opportunity to consider innovative approaches and collaborative partnerships to addressing community health risks. Specifically, the NASA scientists’ presentations help shed light on the impact of climate change on human health, and novel tools that can be used to inform novel interventions to help individuals and communities adapt to climate-related health issues,” Glauberman said.