Can you describe your professional (and/or personal) experience relating to water and space technologies?

My extensive professional experience in mathematical simulation and image processing technology, has equipped me with the necessary skills to excel as a researcher. My academic background has focused on theoretical and computational physics, as well as image and signal processing technology. Through my studies in applied and computational physics, I have gained a deep understanding of these subjects, which have been instrumental in shaping my career and enabling me to effectively extract and analyse satellite datasets.
My interest in water and space technologies stems from the work I have conducted during seminars. Furthermore, my PhD research has instilled in me a strong sense of the importance of contributing to initiatives that benefit society. This realization has sparked my fascination with both, space science and water-related projects. What truly excites me the most is the potential to utilize advanced technologies, such as space technologies and machine learning along with strategies for water management, to tackle critical challenges and enhance the quality of life for the community.

Could you tell us about your current work, your latest project, or your proudest professional moment?

As a PhD student at Addis Ababa University (Space and Geospatial Institute) in Space and Planetary Science department, I have been focused on retrieving inland water quality index datasets as well as the coupling of climate change variables, atmospheric variables and land processes with variations of inland water quality of rivers, lakes and dams utilizing space technologies. Primarily, I focus my work on the use of satellites such as Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Landsat, Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), Sentinel1, 2 and 5 to generate a long-time lake water quality index dataset, and to develop a model for forecasting the water quality of inland water bodies from those hydro-climatic and land process variables, as well as atmospheric parameters. I have published a couple of my research works. Furthermore, I have been developing new services with my working partners that scale the scope of the work to the country and continental level.

You wrote a research paper reviewing the application of satellite imagery in surface water and lake modelling, what were the main conclusions? How could we improve surface water modelling using satellite imagery in African countries?

The main conclusion of the paper is that space and satellite technologies are not fully applicable to manage and control water resources in Ethiopia. There may be numerous methods to improve and develop an accurate surface water model by applying space technologies. Technological, institutional, and capacity-building approaches including (the use of high-resolution satellite images, integrating space-based datasets with in-situ data, utilizing machine learning algorithms, providing training, developing software tools, etc.) are fundamental to improve surface water modelling applying satellite imageries in national and continental levels.

Lake Tana has been registered as a biosphere reserve site by UNESCO in 2015, the lake and its surrounding wetlands areas have been acknowledged to be of global importance for biodiversity, what measures have been undertaken since 2015 to preserve the area? How could it be improved?

I did not see any fruitful measures preserving the lake area, except trying to remove water hyacinth from the lake surface. I recommend integrated and comprehensive measurements, involving multiple stakeholders such as the below listed:

• raising awareness about the importance of preserving the area;
• promoting eco-tourism as a means of generating income for communities;
• strengthening the enforcement of laws and regulations to protect the lake encouraging the participation of community on the improvement of lake preservation
• developing and implementing sustainable land use practices to decrease the negative impacts of human activities on the lake and its wetland areas;
• promoting sustainable management of natural resources by collaborating government agencies, NGOs, and local communities;
• researching the useful techniques to preserve the lake and its area; and
• monitoring the state of the lake and its wetland areas regularly to identify emerging threats and inform conservation strategies.

Can you expand on recent innovations in satellite imagery for hydrology and water resource management?

Due to growing concerns about freshwater availability and increasing instances of water scarcity and disasters, governments and other organizations are increasingly relying on satellite imaging to monitor water resources and minimize water-related damage. Satellite imaging technology plays a crucial role in water resource management. By gathering comprehensive data on water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands, satellite images provide valuable insights into water consumption, purity, and environmental changes. This data can then be utilized to inform policy decisions and identify areas facing water scarcity or potential challenges. Satellite imagery can be also utilized to monitor the condition of wetlands, which play a crucial role in providing clean water and flood protection. They offer detailed information about vegetation, soil composition, and water levels in wetlands and can be used to identify areas at risk of flooding or help determine where additional protection measures may be required. Satellite images are also extremely beneficial in monitoring water level changes resulting from drought or other environmental factors. This data can then be effectively employed to devise strategies for water conservation initiatives or to redirect water resources to areas in need.

Furthermore, satellite images are used to detect indications of water pollution by observing alterations in water quality and temperature and thereby, help identify sources of pollution and areas susceptible to water contamination. The information gathered can be utilized to inform policy-making decisions and mitigate the harmful effects of water-related issues.

In general, satellite imaging is a powerful tool for monitoring water resources and mitigating water-related damage. By providing detailed information on water bodies, water consumption, and water contamination, satellite imagery aids institutions and government entities in making informed decisions and identifying areas at risk of water scarcity or pollution. Consequently, satellite imaging plays a crucial role in protecting water resources and reducing water-related harm.

Can you describe the potential of computational physics and how it could support Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and hydrology.

Computational physics play a vital role in modelling complex hydrological systems and simulating the behaviour of water resources under different scenarios collected by space-based instruments and satellites. Moreover, space-based data often contains noise, uncertainties, and missing information. Computational physics principles are applied to enhance the accuracy and reliability of analysing surface water bodies and hydrology-related physical phenomena through the use of computer simulations and mathematical models.

The collaboration between computational physicists and professionals from the space sector holds significant potential. Computational physics has the potential to greatly support Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and hydrology in several ways such as predicting availability water, modelling and simulating the behaviour of water resources under different climate scenarios, identifying water stress hotspots, optimizing water allocation and monitoring sustainable use of water resources, applying computational physics models, and by developing assessment simulations and models to verify climate change impacts. Ultimately, the integration of computational physics in general physics with space-based data analysis has the potential to recast our understanding of the universe and drive space exploration to new frontiers.

From your experience, do you think the young Ethiopian water professionals are  aware of the role and potential of space technology in addressing most environmental / climate-related challenges?

From my experience, space science and technologies are rather young in Ethiopia, and even in Africa. I don’t think the Ethiopian water professional community is fully aware of the application and use of space technology in addressing environmental and climate challenges.

What can be done to raise awareness of space technologies and computational science to solve environmental challenges at local and national levels?

Working on space technology applications is a dream career for many local and national young professionals, and it has been a thoroughly rewarding endeavour for me. Being aware of technology that helps solve environmental challenges allows young professionals to engage themselves in cutting-edge projects, working on missions that push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and space exploration.

Educational programs and workshops, or collaborating with local and national governments, networking with professionals in space technologies and computational science, and media campaigns can help to increase public awareness and interest in the thematic, increase funding for research and development in the area, connect individuals and organizations working towards similar goals, fostering collaboration and innovation, and engage a wider audience and promote public support for the fields.

What advice would you give to young professionals looking to learn about computational physics and space science?

To grasp and develop the knowledge of this dynamic field, young professionals need to focus on combined domain knowledge, technical skills, and a proactive learning approach. To begin, it helps to pursue relevant academic courses, certifications, or workshops that cover the fundamental concepts of computational physics or physics in general and space science.
Hands-on experience through internships and research projects is also helpful for developing practical skills and learning about real-world applications. A solid foundation in the fundamental concepts and principles of physics and computer science allows to develop a strong foundation to understand the more complex concepts in computational physics and space science. Staying updated with comprehensive, valuable advancements, insights and research in the field is equally vital. Regular academic publications, attending conferences, workshops, online courses and participating in professional networks will grant continuous learning and keeps young professionals close to the field.

Can you recommend a few good online training resources to learn about programming languages?

There are a number of online training resources to learn programming languages in certificate, diploma and degree levels. I recommend easily accessible learning websites such as Alison (https://www.alison.com/), Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/), EdX(https://www.edx.org/school/edx), Code.org (https://code.org/) and MIT Open Courseware (https://ocw.mit.edu/)

What is your favourite aggregate state of water?

In terms of quality, my aggregate state of water is oligotrophic state. But if we understand the question in terms of state of matter, water can exist in three states of matter - solid, liquid, and gas. So, liquid is my favourite state.