NASA’s Earthdata program is rolling out a new training designed to strengthen global capacity in tracking and forecasting Climate-Sensitive Disease Risks. The Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) initiative will conduct the three-part online workshop from September 2–4, 2025, offering a specialized curriculum for public health and scientific communities.
According to the World Health Organization, climate-linked vector-borne diseases such as malaria affect millions of people annually and are responsible for more than 700,000 deaths worldwide. The NASA training seeks to help participants understand how satellite observations and Earth science data can be used to analyze environmental conditions that drive disease outbreaks.
Training Focus and Objectives
The live sessions will run twice, each lasting two hours, with a 30-minute Q&A segment. The program is open to professionals including epidemiologists, biostatisticians, vector ecologists, and NGOs working in public health. A background in basic remote sensing is recommended.
By the end of the course, participants are expected to:
- Identify environmental factors contributing to disease risks using satellite data
- Access and interpret NASA Earth observation datasets
- Evaluate dataset characteristics such as spatial resolution and latency
- Integrate environmental data into disease forecasting frameworks
- Apply knowledge through a malaria forecasting case study in Ethiopia using the EPIDEMIA system
Case Study Application
One highlight of the workshop will be a step-by-step demonstration of how remote sensing is applied in real-world disease modeling. The EPIDEMIA system, used in Ethiopia, will showcase how environmental data is integrated with epidemiological models to predict malaria risk. This practical component bridges theory with actionable application.
Expert Instructors
The training will be led by Assaf Anyamba, with guest lectures from Tatiana Loboda and Michael Wimberly, all recognized experts in remote sensing and disease ecology. Their combined expertise ensures participants gain both technical skills and applied insights.
By equipping participants with the knowledge to monitor environmental changes and anticipate outbreaks, the workshop provides actionable tools for protecting communities against the growing challenges posed by Climate-Sensitive Disease Risks.
Registration details are available on NASA’s Earthdata ARSET portal, and interested participants are encouraged to sign up early.
