Dr. Fred Moshary



Director, NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II)

This past quarter has been an exceptionally active and productive period for CESSRST-II. The Center supported 19 graduate student fellows who participated in the NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) internships as well as two undergraduate students who participated in the NOAA Undergraduate Research Internship (NURI) program during Summer 2026.

Our students have been engaged across multiple NOAA Line Offices and laboratories, including NESDIS, OAR, NWS, and NMFS, gaining valuable hands-on experience aligned with NOAA's mission. The Center was also actively involved in our Cohort V recruitment, resulting in the recruitment of 33 new fellows, including 5 Ph.D. students, 17 master's students, and 11 undergraduate students. Additional recruitment efforts are expected to continue through the summer.



The Center held its Fourth Annual Meeting and Advisory Board Meeting at the NOAA Science Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, from April 20-22, 2026. The Annual Meeting opened with remarks from NOAA leadership, emphasizing the importance of the Educational Partnership Program (EPP), mentorship, and workforce development. Presentations from NOAA Line Offices, including NESDIS, OAR, NWS, NOS, and NMFS, highlighted agency priorities in areas such as data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), cloud computing, satellite calibration, weather and radar research, ocean observations, and fisheries survey technologies.

During the Advisory Board Meeting that immediately followed the Annual Meeting. board members provided valuable feedback and recommendations, emphasizing the need for fellows to develop strong foundations in artificial intelligence while also strengthening communication, leadership, and systems engineering skills to better prepare for future careers in the NOAA workforce and broader STEM enterprise.

From May 5-8, 2026, the Center underwent an on-site review conducted by an Independent External Review Team (IERT), of its years 1-3 activities. The IERT team members, along with NOAA's Grants Management and EPP teams, met with the CESSRST-II leadership team and representatives from The City College of New York (CCNY). Prior to the May visit, and as part of the review process, the Center delivered an overview presentation to the IERT in April. CESSRST-II currently awaits the final evaluation report.

During the spring and summer 2026 semesters of this period, 10 CESSRST-II fellows graduate. Among the graduates were Alessandra Zuniga (SDSU) and Wendy Prudencio (UMBC), who both earned their Ph.D. degrees.

A major highlight of the quarter was the Center's hosting of the 12th Biennial Education and Science Forum at CCNY from July 20-23, 2026. The Forum also commemorated the 25th Anniversary of the NOAA Educational Partnership Program Cooperative Science Centers.

The Forum served as a premier venue for showcasing collaborative research and education initiatives conducted by students and faculty from NOAA EPP-funded academic institutions in partnership with NOAA scientists. It also created opportunities for new collaborations, professional networking, and career development for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM disciplines.

The event featured a diverse array of technical sessions, hands-on workshops, professional development activities, and networking opportunities. More than 330 participants registered for the Forum. The program included 115 poster presentations, 43 oral technical presentations, and 24 student awards presented across four thematic areas.

CESSRST-II also unveiled the iCHARM app. The app developed by Jonathan Seigel, a CESSRST-II M.S Fellow at SDSU allows users to explore and analyze environmental data without needing programming experience.

The Forum culminated with a Jubilee Banquet Dinner, during which nine distinguished guests were honored for their contributions to NOAA EPP and workforce development efforts. Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Latoya Myles, Director of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory (ARL), and Dr. Equisha Glenn of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

CESSRST-II remains committed to its mission of educating, training, and graduating highly skilled postsecondary students while strengthening the readiness of fellows for careers supporting NOAA's mission and the nation's STEM workforce needs. The Center looks forward to a productive and successful Fall 2026 semester as it continues to advance research, education, and workforce development initiatives.

Jonathan Siegel (left), a CESSRST EPP Fellow, and his iCHARM computer coding team members: (L-R) Will Ruff, Elliot Gambale, William Phong, and Arthur Pasquinelli. Image credit: Christian Byars