How do you personally and/or professionally relate to space technologies and water?
Personally, and professionally, my connection to space technologies and water stems from my academic background in environmental sciences, with a specific focus on water resources in dry regions. The regions where I conduct my research face significant challenges, including economic constraints and political complexities that limit access to in-situ data. Remote sensing technology has become indispensable in my research toolkit because it transcends administrative borders and political barriers. It provides reliable and regular data that are crucial for understanding hydrological dynamics and managing transboundary water resources effectively. Remote sensing enables me to overcome data scarcity issues and enhances the precision and scope of my studies, contributing to sustainable water management practices in challenging environments.
What motivated you to pursue a PhD in Process and Environmental Engineering? Can you expand on the topic of your dissertation?
What motivated me to pursue a PhD in Process and Environmental Engineering was my deep fascination with untangling complex environmental issues and uncovering the real drivers behind them. My dissertation reflects this passion by adopting a multidisciplinary approach to assess environmental changes in water-scarce regions. I focused on pioneering methods like the Catchment-Estuary-Coastal (CEC) systems analysis to understand coastal complexities fully. This research not only contributes to environmental engineering but also aligns with my commitment to addressing global sustainability challenges through rigorous scientific inquiry and practical solutions
How did your time as a NUFYP Teaching Fellow in Experimental Sciences and Biology at Nazarbayev University prepare you for your current role as a Doctoral Researcher?
My tenure as a Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program Teaching Fellow at Nazarbayev University, which coincided with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was instrumental in preparing me for my role as a postdoctoral researcher. Teaching biology and environmental change to foundation students, including guiding projects on biodiversity conservation, provided me with the opportunity to engage with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Adapting quickly to online teaching, recording lectures, and conducting seminars via Zoom enhanced my technological skills and underscored the importance of flexibility and adaptability in education. These experiences have proven invaluable in navigating interdisciplinary research and effectively communicating scientific concepts in my current role.
How did your experience as a Teaching Assistant for Spatial Analysis with GIS, Environmental Modeling, and ICTs for Environmental Professionals at Central European University contribute to your academic and professional growth? What do you think are key skills you learned?
My experience as a Teaching Assistant for two courses at Central European University, namely Spatial Analysis with GIS, Environmental Modeling, and ICTs, significantly contributed to both my academic and professional growth. As a young PhD student, mentoring adult environmental sciences and policy master's students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds was both challenging and rewarding. They brought real-world problems from their professional environments and countries, seeking solutions through GIS, remote sensing, and system dynamics modeling. This role sharpened my ability to swiftly switch between topics, accommodate cultural and disciplinary differences, and effectively communicate complex concepts. Key skills I developed include cross-disciplinary collaboration, adaptability in teaching methodologies, and fostering critical thinking in problem-solving approaches, all of which have been essential in my academic and professional journey
Can you discuss a project you worked on that you are particularly proud of and the impact it had?
I am working on several projects focused on the Caspian Sea, covering a wide range of topics that have established me as an expert in the area. My research began with analyzing the vulnerability of coastal areas to changes in lake levels and progressed to assessing the impact of climate change on ice dynamics. I have also been involved in decoupling the climate and anthropogenic drivers of inflow changes from the Iranian coast, and we are currently extending the study to river flow changes in all major rivers feeding the Caspian Sea. Later this year, I plan to present a new socioeconomic study that projects changes in the Caspian Sea area under different climate change scenarios, highlighting the consequences for transportation and tourism. Additionally, we have developed a monitoring system for oil spills using remote sensing and machine learning.
You focus your work on the Middle East and Central Asia, what are the most pressing water security risks you see for each region? What needs to change by when so that we don’t run out of time? What consequences do you foresee in case we don’t address the water issues of each region?
The Middle East and Central Asia face "extremely high" water stress levels by 2040 due to population growth, urbanization, unsustainable irrigation, and rising energy demands. Climate change exacerbates these issues with rising temperatures, glacier retreat, and altered precipitation patterns, reducing water availability. Over 70% of global net permanent water loss has already occurred in these regions, with significant water bodies like the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Bakhtegan, and Lake Urmia suffering major losses.
Immediate action is needed to implement sustainable water management practices, efficient irrigation techniques, and robust climate adaptation strategies. Major sources of fresh water, such as groundwater and transboundary rivers, require careful management. Groundwater is often unsustainably used for agriculture, while transboundary rivers necessitate focused cooperation between governments. Without urgent intervention, these regions risk heightened conflicts over water, reduced agricultural productivity, food insecurity, economic instability, and further ecosystem degradation. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure water security and sustainable development.
Can you elaborate on the WEF Nexus index (WEFNI), how it is calculated, and what it is best used for? What role does space technology play in this index?
Dramatic population growth, industrialization, and urbanization are estimated to increase the demand for water by 40%, energy by 50%, and food by 35% by 2030, with agricultural production expected to rise by 70% in the next two decades. This is especially alarming in arid and semi-arid regions, where freshwater resources are already scarce and the demand for food and energy is continuously rising. The interconnections between the water, energy, and food sectors mean that strategies focusing on one area without considering the others risk overlooking critical interactions, potentially leading to multiple unforeseen problems.
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFe) Nexus integrates the interconnectedness of water, energy, food, and ecosystems. Our interdisciplinary team from the NEXUSNET COST Action has developed a framework that incorporates two main paradigms: viewing ecosystems and their services as foundational to the Nexus and considering ecosystems as a fourth component in an expanded Nexus. Our approach also introduces a novel WEF-Ecosystems Nexus that links the Water-Energy-Food Nexus with social-ecological systems (SES), highlighting the mutual interconnections and impacts between human activities and ecosystems.
How does an assessment of the effects of coastline change and evaluating zones vulnerable to desiccation look like? Please share your insights about the sea level changes in the Caspian Sea, and whether this approach can be used for other water bodies. If so for which, and under what conditions? What is the potential of space technology for such an assessment?
The Caspian Sea, an enclosed basin, is highly sensitive to both global and regional climate changes. Its water level is influenced by river inflow, precipitation, evaporation, and discharge to the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. Recent climate change, exacerbated by human activities such as water withdrawals, damming, and diversions, has caused significant disruptions to the water balance.
To assess the vulnerability of the Caspian Sea shoreline to hydrological and climatic changes, we simulated sea water levels (SWL) using total inflow from rivers and net precipitation over the sea. We compared NDWI maps, showing the minimum annual water body in 1977 (355,000 km²) and the maximum in 1995 (380,000 km²), to identify vulnerable areas over the past 80 years. This analysis estimated that approximately 25,000 km² are potentially vulnerable to water level drops. Additionally, we identified desiccated areas in different regions of the Caspian Sea and the affected states through a combination of SWL-CVA regression and SWL simulation models.
This assessment methodology can be applied to any water body worldwide, as remote sensing data is freely available for nearly any area, subject to cloud conditions. This approach is particularly useful for other large inland water bodies and coastal zones, enabling effective monitoring and management of water resources under changing climatic conditions.
You are currently researching river flow alteration and lakes and wetlands restoration in Northern Finland. Can you elaborate on your research findings or challenges?
I am still working on a proposal and searching for funding for this project but an idea is to develop a digital twin (DT) of the urban lakes system North of Oulu (Lake Pyykösjärvi & Lake Kuivasjärvi) to spot problems and develop and test scenarios to support the sustainable development of the area. The location of the lakes within walking distance of the university makes them a good pilot study site for the application of the DT concept on the natural system as it eases the monitoring and the fieldwork.
The DT concept goes beyond modelling and simulation of historical or theoretical scenarios analyzing real-world, real-time data and proactively prescribing optimal actions. The key characteristics of DT are real (or physical) space, virtual space, and the connection between them for data flow from real to virtual space and information flow from virtual to real space. The construction of a digital twin requires a data foundation and a technical foundation. The data foundation refers to the collected data that is continuously generated from various sensors in the study area, as well as the digital subsystems successively built using remote sensing products. The technical foundation refers to relevant technologies such as the IoT, cloud computing, big data, and AI, including 5G and 6G. IoT is a key enabler of the development of ‘digital twins’ – real-time, virtual replicas of physical assets, systems or processes. Digital twins can be used to monitor the environments and simulate different scenarios, reducing the need for physical prototypes or tests.
Based on a review of existing literature there is very little research on the deployment of the DTs concept for natural water systems in urban settings. And by applying the DT concept to the natural lake system in the context of urban hydrology, we explore relatively unknown territory.
With the rise of climate change and other environmental challenges, how do you see the role of space technology in adapting and mitigating these challenges and how do you plan to contribute your research in the future, and what?
With the rise of climate change impacting Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (ECA), the role of space technology has become increasingly pivotal in adaptation and mitigation strategies. My research, building upon previous studies, particularly focuses on index-based agricultural insurance as a solution to climate-driven crop yield losses in the region. This study delves into the intricate dynamics surrounding agricultural insurance, examining the hurdles faced by farmers, including limited availability and access to such services, tax avoidance, bureaucratic complexities, and distrust towards insurance companies. It will contribute to the limited research available on this topic covering selected 17 countries of the ECA region, which are particularly prone to climate change.
Space agencies have been developing and deploying various Earth-observation satellites to monitor water resources and manage water scarcity. What challenges do you see in this field, and what new advancements do you think are needed to overcome these challenges?
In recent years, space agencies have made significant strides in utilizing Earth observation satellites for monitoring water resources and managing water scarcity. However, several challenges persist in this field. One major issue is the vast amount of data generated by these satellites, which can overwhelm current data processing and management systems. As we move forward, there is a critical need for advancements in technologies to handle and interpret this data efficiently. The concept of Digital Twins, which I have been actively researching, holds promise in addressing these challenges. Digital Twin technology allows for real-time streaming of data into dynamic models, enabling continuous simulations of future scenarios and feedback loops within the system. This approach not only enhances the accuracy of water resource management but also optimizes decision-making processes. Moving forward, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms with Digital Twin frameworks will be crucial to extracting actionable insights from satellite data, thereby maximizing its utility in addressing water management challenges globally. The digital twin can map the physical entities and behaviour of systems to the virtual world, forming a high-fidelity dynamic multi-dimensional, multi-scale, multi-physical quantity model, which will provide an effective way for observing, recognizing, understanding, controlling, and transforming the physical world.
You are a member of the Finnish Water Association, can you elaborate on your engagement, the benefits you enjoy from being a member, and to whom you would recommend joining a national water association?
This year I was elected a Vice Chair of the newly established IWA Young Water Professionals (IWA YWP) chapter in Finland, officially launched in June 2024. In partnership with the Finnish Water Association, our chapter serves as a vital network for young professionals under 35 who are passionate about water-related issues. Our mission is to foster equal opportunities and promote quality career development through a range of activities including seminars, workshops, excursions, and informal gatherings. Together, we aim to strengthen connections among YWPs in Finland and contribute to advancing expertise and innovation in the water sector.
What advice do you have for students and early career researchers interested in pursuing a career in environmental science and water management?
For students and early career researchers aspiring to a career in environmental science and water management, my advice is multifaceted. Firstly, learning programming languages and coding is essential, as hydrological modeling relies heavily on these skills. Focus on a narrow field to develop deep expertise, but remain adaptable as this dynamic field evolves rapidly, with major new concepts emerging approximately every five years. Travel frequently to observe your research subjects firsthand; this will enhance your understanding and provide valuable context. Continuously expand your network, and don't hesitate to share your ideas, as collaboration with like-minded individuals can significantly enrich your research.
As a continuous learner, can you recommend some online resources to learn using space-based technology and data for water management, hydrology, and ecosystem preservation?
I would recommend going through Google Earth Engine Tutorials specifically for the topic of your interest. From the last resources I used, I liked the training workshops provided by the Copernicus Marine Service, the Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security MOOC prepared by the Global Water Partnership and Nature-Based Infrastructure Academy 5-Week Live Program
Last, but not least, what is your favourite aggregate state of water?
My favourite aggregate state of water is liquid, specifically flowing water in rivers. I am particularly fascinated by rivers that traverse borders, linking nations like veins in a body. These rivers are not just physical entities; they are lifelines that connect diverse communities, cultures, and ecosystems. Their flow across states symbolizes the interdependence and shared destiny of different regions. Central Asia is a good example of regional cooperation based on the shared waters of Amu Dariya and Syr Dariya. In my research, I often focus on transboundary river basins, where water management becomes a cooperative effort that transcends political boundaries. Flowing rivers remind us of the importance of collaboration and the continuous, dynamic nature of water as it shapes our world.
