Overview

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Cooperative REmote Sensing Science and Technology (NOAA-CREST) center aims to conduct research, educate,  and train a diverse group of students, early career scientists, and engineers in NOAA related Science missions to help create a diverse STEM workforce for NOAA, NOAA contractors, Academia, Industries and Private Sector. 

The overarching goal of CREST is to conduct research consistent with NOAA’s interests of environmental assessment, prediction and environmental stewardship. This research creates a framework to recruit and train undergraduate and graduate students especially from underrepresented communities for professional opportunities.

Established in 2001 through a national competition, and funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA,  “NOAA/EPP Grant # NA11SEC4810004"), the NOAA-CREST center is led by The City University of New York and brings together Hampton University, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, California State University, and University of Maryland Baltimore County, and industrial partners like Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and IMSG. 

The Center’s research focuses on all aspects of remote sensing - sensor development, satellite remote sensing, ground-based field measurements, data processing and analysis, modeling, and forecasting. Besides training of the students, the program also includes seminars, summer internships with NOAA, and with industrial partners, and school-year research assistantship. 

NOAA-CREST students and faculty/researchers work in line with  the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service’ (NESDIS), Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), CREST thematic research & education projects are designed to address NOAA’s main missions of Sciences, Services, and Stewardships. NOAA CREST members also work in close collaborations with other NOAA line office including National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR), and National Ocean Services (NOS). 

Vision

A Center which rigorously trains a diverse cadre of professionals through outreach, education and participation in state-of-the-art in quality research which is recognized as essential and meets NOAA’s needs in remote sensing science and technology, so that graduates of the program are capable.

Mission

To educate and train a diverse cadre of students and early career scientists and engineers to become highly competent professionals in NOAA related STEM sciences through participation in state-of-the-art research in an internationally recognized CREST Center for remote sensing science and technologies, with the research closely integrated with NOAA to support and promote strategic goals in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Weather-Ready Nation, Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coastal Communities.

Goals

• Build institutional capacity and conduct cutting edge research in Remote Sensing science and technology in line with NOAA’s Mission Goals, and in support of NOAA line offices.
• Recruit, mentor, and train graduate students in science, engineering, and technology areas of relevance to NOAA, with a special emphasis on traditionally underrepresented groups, to provide a diverse future workforce for NOAA, NOAA contractors and other related federal, state, and industrial stakeholders.
• Develop a pipeline of students from high school through college level to increase the number of students pursuing graduate studies in NOAA related science, engineering, and technology areas by introducing education and outreach programs at CREST institutions and communities that they serve.

Value Statements

Graduates of CREST will have been immersed in the scientific culture relevant to NOAA and educated and familiarized with NOAA relevant technical skills so as to be able to readily integrate with and contribute to NOAA activities. These include producing and analyzing integrated remote sensing data products and providing the information needed for planning actions to adapt and mitigate the effects of severe weather, anthropogenic impacts and climate change on urbanized coastal environments. Their research training also equips them to develop, validate and apply advanced remote sensing technologies to investigate coupling processes and monitor the condition of urbanized coastal environments (land, atmosphere, and ocean) for developing forecasting capabilities, managing resources and assessing the potential effects of changes. Generally they can also be expected to support NOAA’s mission by development and evaluation of calibration and validation techniques and by transferring analysis methods to operations; and to produce and serve as a recognized source for integrated remote sensing data products, diagnostic models and information concerning environmental processes and the effects of changes on all the components of coastal environments with an emphasis on urbanized coastal regimes.

CREST thematic research areas perfectly aligns with NOAA science missions and include:

• Global Climate studies (aligns with NOAA's Climate Mitigation and Adaptation)
• Atmosphere and Weather (aligns with NOAA's Weather Ready Nation)
• Water Resources and Land Processes (aligns with NOAA's Weather Ready Nation and Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies)
• Ocean and Coastal Waters (aligns with NOAA's Healthy Oceans, Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies)