From 4/6-7/24, the SERVIR Science Coordination Office (SCO) and USAID Central America and Mexico mission (CAM) co-hosted the Geospatial Youth (“Jóvenes Geoespaciales”) workshop with the Central American Aerospace Network (RAC), hosted at Gerardo Barrios University in San Miguel, El Salvador. SERVIR personnel who participated included SERVIR Global Program Manager Daniel Irwin, Ms. Betzy Hernández, Ms. Lauren Carey, and Ms. Lena Pransky (Earth Science Branch). A group of 45 students ages 15-17 years from USAID-funded youth skill-building programs participated in the workshop, where they created prototype projects for using NASA Earth data to address environmental challenges in their own communities, such as a fire alert map and deforestation tracking tool. The participants later attended a talk by Astronaut Frank Rubio and Mr. Irwin entitled “From Space to Village” (SERVIR’s program motto), collaboratively organized by SERVIR, USAID CAM, the Department of State, and Gerardo Barrios University. Following this talk, the Geospatial Youth participants had the opportunity to present their prototype projects to Col. Rubio, Mr. Irwin, and USAID CAM Mission Director Christopher Cushing. Together, Col. Rubio and SERVIR underscored the multitude of ways for students to pursue their interests in space technology and exploration, from the ISS to applications of satellite data here on Earth.
