NASA Lifelines

Lifelines is grateful for the incredible participation in our Supper Clubs this year. Since our launch in May at SatSummit in Washington, DC, we’ve hosted 15 Supper Clubs across 8 cities worldwide, bringing together over 150 experts. As we look back on the year, we’re inspired by the amazing participants who show up and actively engage in meaningful conversations—from using satellite data to advance human rights to bridging the gap between geospatial practitioners and farmers. Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to continue the conversation with more Supper Clubs in the new year!

In case you missed it: The second annual Ready for Impact program is now accepting applications! This virtual incubator helps humanitarians and scientists transform satellite data into life-saving solutions. From February to June 2025, participants will engage in workshops, mentorship, and a pitch showcase designed to scale their innovations.   Last year’s cohort used innovative Earth science technology to tackle humanitarian challenges worldwide, and you can too! Curious about their work? Check out the 2024 Ready for Impact Lookbook or read the latest article in our Lifelines Gallery, where Jamon Van Den Hoek shares how the program helped him secure funding and elevate his work tracking global crises.   Don’t miss out—applications close January 21, 2025. Apply now here: https://lnkd.in/gB_mnKyR  

We started with an ambitious vision to create a community of the future to accelerate use of satellite data for humanitarian action, and our grand experiment is working. Check out this report on our first year of NASA Lifelines - it's well worth a read. Huge thanks to NASA for believing in this work and supporting our big dreams, especially Shanna N. McClain, Ph.D., Lawrence Friedl, Thomas Wagner, Emily Sylak-Glassman, Seph Allen, Jacob Reed, Caitlin Wilson, and their amazing Earth Action and Earth Science teams. To all of you who joined us in this first year - THANK YOU. You inspire me, and the world is a better place because of you. Learn more about this community and join leaders like Linet Kwamboka Nyang'au, Freddie E. Wills, Jr., PhD, Mithun Dutta, Wim Zwijnenburg, Jamon Van Den Hoek, Aaron Eubank, Ariana Louise, Ryan McGranaghan, Matt Berg, Klaudyna Wrochna, Joel Bergner, Jose Leonardo L., Anna Winters, Benjamin Winters, Monica Nthiga, Nadine Alameh, Rachel Opitz, Liam Nicoll, Bernat Escarre Pons, Manuel García-Herranz, Yves Jaques, Olivier Cottray, Nuala Cowan, Qiusheng Wu, Heather Leson, Sarah McLane Bryan and so many others. And I couldn't be prouder of my Lifelines team at DevGlobal. Thank you for the passion and energy you bring every day. You make this work a joy. Jeff Pituch, Laura Guzmán, Nicole Hunt, James Haithcoat, Seamus Geraty, Reece Williams, Anna Veldman.

When we launched NASA Lifelines last year, we kicked off with a vision to unite communities to harness Earth observation for humanitarian impact. One year in, we're amazed by what our community has achieved! 🚀   We brought together 868 community members, with 72% representing underrepresented backgrounds. We launched the first-of-its-kind Humanitarian Simulation with 300 registrants, dove into complex topics in 15 Supper Clubs across 8 different cities, and supported 5 community murals reaching 100,000+ people daily.   With the Earth Science Review Board, we connected passionate experts with organizations like Mercy Corps, World Food Programme, and Human Rights Watch to enhance their satellite data capabilities. And in the Ready for Impact program, 11 teams of humanitarians and scientists participated in a fast-paced programming and a pitch competition, receiving coaching, data support and connections to funders.   Join us in celebrating this diverse community by exploring our year in review. And if you're ready shape year two – stay tuned! Applications for Ready for Impact are live now, and we'll continue sharing ways to get engaged. https://lnkd.in/eP5Tkjse

There's untapped potential for satellite technology to transform humanitarian response - but only if we bring the right people together. Watch our new video to see how NASA Lifelines is building bridges between scientists and humanitarians, creating a community where expertise creates even greater impact.   We're excited to share our full Year 1 report later today and to celebrate the stories and achievements from this incredible community!   Join us in making satellite data work for humanitarian action: https://lnkd.in/eAxsD3jg

Last night, Lifelines Fellow Liz Saccoccia, in collaboration with the World Resources Institute, hosted a Supper Club focused on Earth observation applications for water monitoring in fragile contexts. The event featured lightning talks from professionals highlighting the diverse uses of Earth observation data—from remotely monitoring water bodies to fostering transboundary peacebuilding.   The evening wrapped up with a lively discussion on the accessibility of existing data and the development of innovations aimed at supporting humanitarian efforts with justice and equity in mind.   If you’d like to participate in an upcoming Supper Club, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gGqhwV7X

Applications are now open for the second annual Ready for Impact program!   This virtual incubator, running from February to June 2025, supports humanitarians and scientists in scaling satellite data-powered innovations. Participants will benefit from: ·        Access to technical expertise ·        Collaboration with humanitarian partners ·        Comprehensive pitch training ·        Connections with funders ·        Dedicated mentorship and support ·        A participation stipend Curious about the program’s impact? Explore the 2024 Ready for Impact Lookbook to see how last year’s cohort used Earth science tools to address humanitarian challenges: https://lnkd.in/eSptFDFP You can also read our latest blog article in the Lifelines Gallery, which highlights one participant’s journey using satellite technology to track global crises and the visibility and funding he gained through the program: https://lnkd.in/eVRyRRjm   Apply by January 21, 2025, for the chance to be selected for this opportunity: https://lnkd.in/gxWW5NGK

Two weeks ago, Lifelines Fellow Esperanza Ortega-Tapia hosted a Supper Club in partnership with the George Washington University Geography Department. The event brought together students, geospatial specialists, and agricultural professionals for an evening of thoughtful conversations about bridging the gap between GIS practitioners and farmers. From the discussion, three key takeaways stood out: clear communication, meeting people where they are, and using technology with care. (1) Clear communication is essential for both farmers and GIS professionals to align on data and agricultural needs, ensuring projects run smoothly and successfully. (2) Meeting each other where they are can look different depending on the situation—farmers might need to take a chance on using technology, while GIS technicians may need to spend time on the ground (or farm) to truly understand the work. (3) Finally, the agricultural community is incredibly diverse, with each group having unique needs. The most important takeaway from the Supper Club was the emphasis on practicing GIS with care—approaching each community on a human level and tailoring solutions to their specific goals and challenges. If you'd like to join future Supper Clubs, check out the form here: https://lnkd.in/gGqhwV7X

At the UN World Data Forum in Medellín last month, Lifelines organized a Supper Club in collaboration with Save the Children, centered on the role of Earth observation for humanitarian action across Latin America. The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, including representatives from 3iSolutions, HOTOSM, Crisis Ready, the Danish Refugee Council, Halo Trust, and other key organizations working in the region. Participants engaged in discussions about the unique challenges and opportunities in using geospatial technology to address critical issues in Latin America. If you’d like to join upcoming conversations on this topic, you can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gGqhwV7X

NASA Lifelines partnered with Bill Greer at SatSummit Lisbon in November to kick off a new series of Supper Clubs focused on an exciting non-profit initiative: launching a satellite mission dedicated to addressing humanitarian priorities. The event brought together leaders from the satellite and humanitarian sectors, including representatives from the Red Cross Climate Center, Pax for Peace, ICEYE, and Space4Good, among others.   If you’d like to learn more about this initiative or join an upcoming Supper Club on the topic, please reach out to [email protected].