Description:

Experts working in environmental health fields – including research, community practice, and education – examine the dynamic processes of the global ecosystem, develop research applications that disseminate study findings, and apply these findings to inform local, national, and international communities about health risks. Reputable scientific institutions have reported statistics that illustrate the global burden of environmental exposures. Emerging global threats – such as seven million annual premature deaths linked to air pollution, malaria as the third leading cause of mortality due to an infectious disease, and increased environmental risks of extreme heat – require innovative data and technology applications and multidisciplinary collaborations to develop evidence-based responses to scientific inquiries that aim to mitigate health risks. Satellite data offer fundamental insight into this scientific inquiry to explore the factors that influence environmental conditions or infectious disease transmission within the changing ecosystem. These real-time data can be integrated into traditional environmental health programs and practices, which can inform health decision-making, strengthen communication strategies to the public, provide novel information for epidemiologic surveillance programs, and build partnerships with community, national, and international stakeholders.

This multidisciplinary panel of experts will provide an open platform to highlight satellite data, products, and applications that have the potential to transform the paradigm of environmental health research. Panelists will describe how these applications can further advance scientific knowledge of the variation of aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial ecosystems based on spatial and temporal trends. Panelists will also highlight how understanding the dynamic processes of the surrounding ecosystem, whether by natural or anthropogenic sources, can impact public health. They will discuss utilized approaches and recommendations to strengthen scientific communication and enhance public engagement to diverse stakeholders in environmental health fields.