Hello everyone!
As part of my ongoing project, Geoscientists' Voices (supported by the AGU Voices for Science program), I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with a fellow cohort member, Aline Maybank. Aline is an environmental health researcher at George Washington University and a Yale graduate who is currently bridging the gap between geospatial data and clinical medicine.
Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/H_ul0PBDUOs
Support the project and stay updated: https://www.youtube.com/@Geoscientists_Voices
In our conversation, we explored how satellite technology isn't just for "pure" geophysics-it is a vital tool for protecting the air we breathe. We discussed her work with NASA DEVELOP analyzing wildfire risks in Vermont, where she discovered that wildfires actually peak in the spring (April/May) due to snowmelt exposing forest floor tinder, rather than the traditional summer peak many expect.
Why This Matters for the AGU Community
Aline brings a unique "human health lens" to Earth data. For those of us used to looking at seismic traces or tectonic maps, hearing how $NO_2$ (Nitrogen Dioxide) levels tracked by the new NASA TEMPO satellite directly correlate to emergency room visits for asthma is a powerful reminder of our work's societal impact.
Key Highlights from our Talk:
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Science Advocacy: Aline shared her experience lobbying on Capitol Hill, explaining how personal anecdotes from scientists are crucial when federal agencies like NASA, NSF, and NOAA face potential budget cuts.
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The "Plain English" Challenge: We discussed the importance of communicating at a Grade 8 level to ensure our science is accessible to the public, avoiding the "forest of jargon" that often hides our findings.
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Inclusive Geoscience: Inspired by her work co-founding a national conference for deaf awareness, we talked about making geosciences more inclusive through American Sign Language (ASL) and open-access resources.
Aline's path toward becoming a physician-researcher reminds us that the next decade of environmental health depends on our ability to conduct research equitably, reaching rural and low-income communities that lack ground-level sensors but are visible from space.
I'd love to hear from the community: How are you using "Plain English" or interdisciplinary collaborations to make your Earth science data relevant to public health or policy?
Let's keep the conversation going!
Aleksei Nelaev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alekseinelaev/
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Aleksei Nelaev
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