Tavis is a  Ph.D. Candidate in Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He also has a Master of Science in Environmental Health from the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health at the University of Maryland. His research interests include uneven development, climate extremes, child malnutrition and climate adaptation.

I was raised in Mekelle, a northern Ethiopian city amidst a big loving family. I am awed by science and learning more of it is a thrill. I did my undergrad in Israel, in a renowned technological institute, Technion. I came to the US to do my master's in Washington State University. I am a newly wed and excited to start this new life with my sweetheart.

Monojit Saha is a PhD Student studying remote sensing of sea ice at the Department of Geographical Sciences University of Maryland. He is also working with the Cryospheric Sciences Team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focuses on improving satellite altimetry retrievals from sea ice especially in the near-coastal polar regions. He is currently working with improving snow depth and sea ice thickness retrievals from near-coastal sea ice and plans to expand into related research avenues aimed towards improved near-coastal satellite retrievals vital for both Arctic coastal inhabitants as well as the biology. 

Sumi Lee is a Korean PhD student who began her program in Spring 2024 in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on using remote sensing technologies including LiDAR, SAR, and optical imagery to monitor forest dynamics, especially vertical structure changes caused by wildfire impacts. She is passionate about applying geospatial science to support environmental resilience and sustainable land management.