Space science is a driving force for human advancement, offering profound benefits that include technological advancement, scientific knowledge, economic benefits, environmental monitoring, and humanities long term survival.
To engage stakeholders and share U.S. expertise in space science, the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia brought Dr. Kate Fickas, Director of Imagery and Remote Sensing Solutions at Esri, to the country. During her weeklong visit, Dr. Fickas conducted lectures, workshops, and discussions with a range of space science audiences including universities, space societies, and other stakeholders.
She spoke about the ways in which modern space science and remote sensing are contributing to development in agriculture, water management, disaster response and mitigation, climate, and other fields. Dr. Fickas gave lectures at Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, and Adama Science and Technology University. She also met with scientists and officials at the Space Science and Geospatial Institute and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology.
With a background as both a remote sensing product producer and end user, Dr. Fickas employs her interdisciplinary expertise in satellite, drone, and lidar remote sensing, GIS, statistical modeling, and machine learning, to develop user and solution-driven approaches to cross-industry applications. With her dynamic industry experience ranging from academic research to commercial and government work, Kate is passionate about storytelling and creating authentic, inclusive communities of practice that employ imagery and remote sensing technology to solve the world’s most complex challenges.
The United States and Ethiopia share deep people-to-people bonds that ground our 120 years of bilateral relations in an enduring spirit of friendship, respect, partnership, and the shared aspirations for the well-being of the Ethiopian people.
That spirit has propelled cooperation in science and the environment, health and education, agriculture and food security, and many other areas where the United States government and the American people have made enduring investments to help improve the lives of all Ethiopians.