The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has provided a grant to establish a multidisciplinary Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology (CREST) Center. The City College of the City University of New York is the lead institution that brings together Lehman College and Bronx Community College (also of the City University of New York), Hampton University, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Bowie State University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Columbia University to form a broad-based research team in remote sen/sing applied to earth, atmospheric, environmental, and marine sciences.

The Center’s research and training focuses on all aspects of remote sensing including: sensor development, satellite remote sensing, ground-based field measurements, data processing and analysis, modeling, and forecasting.

The goals of the Center are to:

• conduct research consistent with NOAA’s missions of environmental assessment, prediction and environmental stewardship; and
• create a framework to recruit and train undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented minorities for professional opportunities within NOAA.

Research and training focuses on:

• atmospheric remote sensing and air quality monitoring;
• estuarine, coastal and marine remote sensing and water quality monitoring; and
• remote sensing applications for environmental assessment and forecasting.

The recruitment and training focuses on recruiting undergraduates, master’s and doctoral students from underrepresented minorities into scientific and engineering disciplines in which they can specialize in remote sensing. The program includes seminars, summer internships with NOAA and with industrial partners and school-year research assistantships.