Congratulations to GESTAR II NASA Goddard HBG Awardees!
The 2026 Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geophysics (HBG) Awards Ceremony was held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on September 28, 2026. GESTAR II is pleased to share the recognition of the following people in their individual and team efforts:
Jeanne Sauber 61A/UMBC, Career Achievement
Citation: For extraordinary, sustained innovations in synthesizing diverse multi-mission instrument data to understand the drivers and impacts of major geohazards on Earth.
Ivona Cetinić 616/Morgan, Mentoring
Citation: Best Savjetnik (Croatian word for professional mentor)
Sylvie Alexander 618/UMBC, Outreach
Citation: Excellence in Outreach for community science initiatives and workforce development.
PACE Science Data Validation Team, Science / Technical Support
Team members include Inia Soto Ramos 616/UMBC, James Allen 616/Morgan, Violeta Sanjuan Calzado 616/UMBC, Dirk Aurin 616/Morgan, Ivona Cetinić 616/Morgan, and Andy Sayer 616/UMBC
Citation: For outstanding support of PACE science data product validation, culminating in the first delivery of fully validated products since the start of the PACE mission.
Sean Foley 616/Morgan, Science / Technical Support (Individual)
Citation: Exceptional Support in Machine Learning and Supercomputing.
Lizz Ultee 615/Morgan, Scientific Achievement
Citation: For advancing our understanding of glacier projections and their future impacts on humanity.
Cheng-Hsuan Joseph Lyu 617/Morgan, Scientific Achievement
Citation: For defining the science performance requirements of the next‑generation backbone microwave sounder ((SMBA (Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications)).
Min-Jeong Jo 618/UMBC, Scientific Achievement
Citation: For outstanding contributions to the evaluation and application of commercial SAR data to advance Earth science research and hazard monitoring.
Dhruva Kathuria 618/UMBC, Scientific Achievement
Citation: For exceptional contributions to inter- and trans-disciplinary science activities across GSFC Earth Science.
Congratulations to all!