European-wide network designed to educate the public, industry government of the benefits of Earth Observation data launched today at MU
Minister of State for Business, Employment Retail, Damien English TD, has today launched Ireland’s Copernicus Academy and Relay at Maynooth University. The launch took place at the All-Island SpaceExpo which is being hosted by the University.
Coordinated in Ireland by MU, Ireland’s Copernicus Academy and Relay is part of a European wide network designed to promote and educate the public, industry, and government of the benefits of developing Earth Observation (EO) capability.
Earth Observation data is of vital importance across society with multiple uses in areas, such as agriculture, forestry, marine, spatial planning, infrastructure and development, as well as issues such as climate change and disaster management.
As part of the launch, an online discovery portal is available to the public at EoDataHub. Designed by the MU Academy and Relay Team, it enables users to learn more about European Copernicus Earth Observation programmes. Users can view and explore Sentinel spaceborne data using digital toolsets and also find out more information with regard to EO training and courses, and potential funding and tender opportunities.
Minister Damien English stated “I am delighted to launch this Earth Observation EoDataHub digital resource by Ireland’s Copernicus Academy and Relay hosted here at MU. Now, more than ever we need EO data platforms to help us generate scientifically robust information in order to make the right decisions in Agri-Food, Forestry, Energy and Marine as well as to respond to the very real challenges posed by Climate Change. Enabling upskilling within space enterprises and academia is a key pillar identified in the National Space Strategy for Enterprise. This EoDataHub platform will provide practical support to all stakeholders; Industry, Government and Academia, - enabling these users to access EO data, toolsets and increase their expertise in EO in order to tackle these global issues.”
Welcoming the launch, President of Maynooth University, Professor Eeva Leinonen, said: “I would like to congratulate the team and all those involved with the opening of the Copernicus Academy and Relay at Maynooth. We have a long tradition in the teaching and research of Earth Observation at our university and we look forward to working with academic, industry and policy stakeholder partners going forward.
“Research is an important focus for MU and the work undertaken in Earth Observation will add to these ongoing activities, and most importantly benefit communities at a local and national level.”
Copernicus Academy and Relay lead Prof Tim McCarthy of Maynooth University, said: “Earth Observation (EO) is playing an increasingly important role in our everyday lives from weather forecasting and environmental protection through to sustainable energy and food production. The role of the Copernicus Academy and Relay is to support the technological and economic development of EO for the benefit of industry, Government, the research community and wider society in Ireland through stakeholder engagement and collaboration with our European/International partners.”
Professor Tim McCarthy, Department of Computer Science; Damien English TD, Minister of State for Business, Employment Retail; Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University; Conor Sheehan National ESA Delegation, Enterprise Ireland