Maynooth University chosen by European Commission to coordinate Earth observation project
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) this week announced that Maynooth University has been selected by the European Commission to coordinate the Copernicus Relay and Academy. Copernicus is a European Union programmeaimed at developing European information services based on satellite Earth Observation and in situ (non-space) data with the goal of enhancing strategic decision making regarding climate change.
The announcement was made as Maynooth University held the first ever Copernicus Information Day in Ireland, with over 220 delegates drawn from public sector, research and industry attending. Maynooth University is one of the world’s leading research centres in climate change and Earth Observation. Maynooth University will also provide scientific support input for the new National Earth Observation Scientific Advisory Group.
Commenting, Minister Halligan, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development, said “I am delighted that Maynooth University has been chosen to coordinate the Copernicus Relay and Academy and host the new National Earth Observation Scientific Advisory Group. The awarding of this position will help drive awareness of the value of the important “Big Data” opportunity developing in Ireland. I would urge my Ministerial colleagues to encourage their Departments to examine opportunities to implement activities based on the Earth Observation data now available to Ireland.”
Commenting, Dr Tim McCarthy, from the National Centre for Geocomputation at Maynooth University, said, "Maynooth University is committed to supporting the long-term development of Earth Observation (EO) activities here in Ireland through coordination of the Copernicus Academy and Relay and expanding our broader EO data-science teaching and research programmes. Earth Observation (EO) is making an increasing impact on our all our lives in recent years, from rapid storm damage-assessment through to supporting natural resource-management and strategic decision-making for climate change."