Space Detectives: Students Use Satellite Data to Address Climate Change During Global Ocean Science Program in Greece

Summer break meant diving into marine research, hiking Greek islands, and using space tech to track climate change for rising Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) juniors Adeena Hossain, Gwyneth Estomo, Tuan Nguyen, Raikhan Primbetova, and Saroosh Zahid. They were selected to participate in an intensive two-week summer course, Sensing Marine Ecosystem Health & Climate Impacts from Space, organized by Georgetown’s Earth Commons Institute, in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

“It was an immersive experience that combined academia with hands-on oceanographic fieldwork,” said Adeena. Bringing together a cohort of 15 students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, the program combined classroom learning, satellite data analysis, and fieldwork to explore the intersection of climate change and marine science. Participants learned how to process and interpret satellite-derived datasets to track the effects of human activity and changing climate patterns on marine ecosystems.

The hands-on learning extended across Athens and Andros Island, where students, led by Dr. Dionysios Raitsos, Associate Professor of Biological Oceanography at NKUA, and Dr. Jesse Meiller, Co-Director of the B.S. in Environment and Sustainability at Georgetown University, visited sustainable farms, met with local communities, and collected phytoplankton samples in coastal waters.

“Along the way, we hiked through stunning landscapes, gaining firsthand appreciation of Greece’s rich natural beauty and deep cultural heritage. We also learned about how Andros’s unique environmental past informs its present and future sustainability challenges,” shared Adeena.

The course emphasized community engagement and sustainable research practices with tangible outcomes. As part of their capstone, students presented an environmental assessment of the Andros marine ecosystem to local stakeholders and conducted independent projects using satellite data. Adeena and fellow student Nitya Gupta (SFS‘27), who is studying on Georgetown’s DC campus, explored the impact of diminishing seasonal upwelling on marine productivity on the Oman Coast. Raikhan and her partner Nikolas Georgiou (NKUA’25) researched phytoplankton productivity in the Gulf of Mexico. “Our findings, which we shared with local environmental stakeholders at the Andros Research Center,  highlighted the ecological impact of freshwater inflow on marine productivity and its implications for climate-driven change in ocean systems,” shared Raikhan.

Tuan and his partners Zoe Gutherman, Class of 2027, a GU Environmental Studies major, and Michail Karamolegos (NKUA’25) used satellite data to study the Western Equatorial Atlantic, drawing from their disciplinary expertise to develop comprehensive analysis. “While I contributed my insights from environmental humanities related to policy and livelihood impacts by global warming, my colleagues filed in these socio-economic contexts with scientific analysis—Zoe is specialized in remote sensing, while Michail majors in environmental chemistry,” he explained.

“This course was a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting our environment, not just from a scientific perspective, but from a humanitarian one,” Adeena reflected. “Climate change profoundly impacts the livelihoods of those around the world, shaping communities and ecosystems alike.”

Farm visit

The course also gave students the opportunity to build international networks and provided critical tools in the fight against ecosystem destruction. As Raikhan noted, “It broadened my perspective on global environmental systems and equipped me with new tools for climate and marine science research.”

“While the whole course was tailored around a scientific query, my biggest takeaway from this program is that the solution to the climate crisis does not lie in technology but human beings,” concluded Tuan.   

The program is part of Georgetown University in Qatar’s broader commitment to experiential learning and global engagement. The pilot course for this initiative was developed by Raha Hakimdavar, GU-Q Research Professor and Senior Advisor to the Dean. This year, GU-Q celebrates 20 years of academic excellence and community impact in Qatar.