Associate Research Professor Adrián Pascual Receives BSOS Early Career Impact Award

Pascual is advancing sustainable forest management through innovative remote sensing research and outreach.

Adrián Pascual, associate research professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland, has received the 2026 Early Career Impact Award from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS). The award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions early in their careers.

Pascual's research focuses on sustainable resource management, forest sciences, conservation and the application of remote sensing technologies, including LiDAR, to improve forest monitoring and management. His work has advanced understanding of forest ecosystems while helping inform strategies for sustainable environmental stewardship.

Beyond his research, Pascual supports NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission and serves as an implementation scientist for NASA's FireSense program. He also collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders and organizations to ensure that scientific advances reach the communities and decision-makers who can benefit from them.

Pascual is equally committed to committed to STEM outreach, engaging K–12 students with hands-on demonstrations of lidar technology and sharing how NASA missions such as GEDI and EDGE are advancing the study of forests and climate change. His outreach efforts extend from local classroom presentations to international workshops and meetings with organizations including the World Bank, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) and the U.S. Department of State.

"Adrián exemplifies what this award recognizes: outstanding early-career achievement coupled with a commitment to serving the broader community. His research is advancing sustainable forest management, and his outreach efforts are helping inspire the next generation of environmental scientists," said GEOG Chair and Professor Tatiana Loboda, who nominated Pascual for the award.

For Pascual, the recognition reflects both his accomplishments and his professional growth since joining the university. "Beyond the number and quality of publications and success in grant funding, having the sense that I have evolved since 2022 is what makes me most proud and what will help me achieve my next career goals," he said. He added that the award gives him "more stamina to keep going" in pursuit of his research goals and recognized his contributions across research, mission support and outreach.

The award was presented during the annual BSOS Faculty and Staff Recognition Reception on May 7 in the Grand Ballroom of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Faculty, staff, students, family members and friends gathered to celebrate the achievements of this year's award recipients. Dean Susan Rivera congratulated the winners, nominees and nominators for their contributions to the college community.

Pascual expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the Department of Geographical Sciences, especially Professor Ralph Dubayah, who recruited him to work on the GEDI mission in 2022 following his postdoctoral research in Hawaii. "Coming to UMD turned out to be a good decision," Pascual said.

This recognition adds to a growing list of honors for Pascual, who received the IUFRO Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in 2024 for his doctoral research at the University of Eastern Finland.

Photo by the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences (BSOS)

Published on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 11:57