The event introduced guests to the new center’s structure and mission, featuring remarks from SERVIR Global Program Manager Dan Irwin and a video overview of some of its planned projects. Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, and William H. Duncan, U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, provided recorded remarks congratulating the new program.
Central America holds a special place in SERVIR’s history. More than three decades ago, Dan Irwin, research scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and founder and global program manager of SERVIR, worked to use satellite data to map new forest reserves in Guatemala. were doing During that time, Irwin met with representatives from Central American environmental ministries to demonstrate how NASA’s Earth data can help address environmental challenges and reduce disaster risk.
“At this meeting, I realized that NASA has a vast library of Earth data, but this information is not being used by experts around the world who have the best understanding of local development issues. I want to fill that gap. wanted to find a way to do it,” shared Irwin.
Under Irwin’s leadership, NASA and USAID partnered to create the SERVIR program, which was formally established in 2005. SERVIR’s mission is to “connect space to villages,” to increase global access to NASA’s Earth data to support local environmental and development efforts.
SERVIR soon expanded its partnerships worldwide with regional centers in South America, Asia and Africa.
SERVIR Central America will work with governments, universities and civil society organizations to support existing natural resource management and development decision-making to serve more than 40 million people across the region. The center will support resilience against environmental challenges including hurricanes, droughts, deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
SERVIR Central America will also strengthen the region’s technological capacity to harness ground observations and promote opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The center will expand the use of geospatial technology by youth and other groups with limited access to these tools.
“The launch of SERVIR Central America marks a milestone in the collaboration between space-based technology and the local needs of Central America,” said Irwin. “This initiative represents NASA and USAID’s commitment to providing cutting-edge technology at the service of the region.”
To know more about SERVIR, visit:
Elizabeth Willock
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov
Lane Figueroa
Huntsville, Alabama
256.544.0034
lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov