Newswise — UPTON, N.Y. — Mike Jensen, a meteorologist and interim chair of the Environmental Science and Technologies Department at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, is a recipient of the DOE Distinguished Mentor Award for Workforce Development, a new award program that recognizes outstanding mentors from across DOE’s 17 national laboratories and their essential roles in developing STEM professionals.

Jensen is one of four mentors honored by DOE’s Office of Science for their excellence in guiding future scientists, engineers, and technical professionals through unique access to world-leading expertise, scientific user facilities, and research tools found at multidisciplinary national laboratories.

“The establishment of the DOE Distinguished Mentor Award for Workforce Development directly aligns with our strategic objectives to not only recognize exceptional mentorship but also to actively cultivate best practices across our National Laboratories,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. “By illuminating these exemplary efforts, we reinforce a vibrant mentoring ecosystem crucial for advancing the DOE’s mission and strengthening the U.S. workforce. We look forward to celebrating our inaugural awardees and hearing their insights and experiences.”  

The mentors will be celebrated at a virtual ceremony later this year. Each awardee will receive $10,000 to be used for research and mentoring-related development.

Over the years, Jensen has mentored dozens of students — from high schoolers to graduate-level researchers — through programs supported by DOE’s Office of Science and Brookhaven Lab. His mentees have participated in DOE programs such as Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Office of Science Graduate Student Research, the Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists Pathway Summer Schools, and various Brookhaven pre-college offerings such as the High School Research Program (HSRP).

“I’m honored and humbled to be awarded,” said Jensen, who leads his department’s Cloud Processes and Measurement Group and is a principal investigator for the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program’s Process-level AdvancementS of Coupled Cloud and Aerosol LifecycleS (PASCCALS) Science Focus Area and an active participant with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility, a multi-laboratory, DOE scientific user facility. “I consider mentorship an important part of my job as a scientist to help with the next generation, and I enjoy that part. It’s nice to be rewarded for something that I like doing.”

In his scientific work, Jensen collects data in the field to analyze and better understand the processes that drive the evolution of cloud systems and their role in the water cycle and the Earth’s energy balance. In field campaigns such as the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment, he and the ARM facility team deploy advanced atmospheric instruments to measure cloud structure, precipitation, and radiation.

Through Jensen’s mentorship, students see what atmospheric science looks like in practice. They learn about tools used in the field, such as radars and weather balloons, analyze datasets using coding and visualization tools like Python, and participate in exciting moments when new insights emerge from their data.

Jensen’s mentorship goes beyond helping students leave internships with new skills in data science and experimental analysis, said Aleida Pérez, manager of Brookhaven’s Office of Workforce Development and Science Education.

“He makes sure students are engaged with the broader network of atmospheric science researchers, helping them understand the impact of the research they collaborate on and see themselves as part of the research community,” Pérez said.

Jensen said he and his colleagues encourage students to embrace trial-and-error, whether they’re trying out ideas for experiments or exploring career pathways.

“We talk to them a lot about not being fearful of the research they’re doing and to go ahead and try new things,” Jensen said.

Those who nominated Jensen for the DOE award cited his accessibility, patience, and ability to instill confidence in aspiring scientists.

“To say that Mike had an impact on my life and career would be a severe understatement,” said Diana Apoznanski, a mentee of Jensen’s through HSRP and SULI. “Mike molded a timid high school student who had an interest in weather into a confident Ph.D. candidate studying Earth system modeling and impacts, and he has consistently and enthusiastically supported my career for an entire decade.”

Apoznanski is now pursuing a Ph.D. in atmospheric science at Rutgers University.

Jensen has also served as a mentor to new mentors, inspiring early-career researchers in his department to step into mentoring roles, Pérez said.

“He has supported his colleagues by serving as a co-mentor, providing guidance, and sharing what he has learned from collaborating with many students who have continued in STEM fields,” Pérez said.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.

Follow @BrookhavenLab on social media. Find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

BYLINE: Russ Nelson

Newswise — The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, will host the Southeast Aerial Drone Competition (ADC) Regional Championship April 17–18 at Spragins Hall on the UAH campus. The event will bring middle and high school students from across the Southeast to Huntsville to compete in a series of team-based aerial drone challenges designed to test their technical knowledge, piloting skills and problem-solving abilities. Participants will apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics principles in real-world scenarios, demonstrating both engineering design and flight operations expertise.

The regional event is hosted by UAH’s Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center (RSESC), a research center focused on advancing innovation in aerospace systems and autonomous technologies. By serving as the site of the Southeast Regional Championship, UAH continues to strengthen its role as a leader in STEM education and workforce development, while connecting university research and expertise with K-12 outreach initiatives.

“At RSESC, we view the Southeast Aerial Drone Competition as an investment in the future of uncrewed systems, robotics and the STEM workforce,” says Justin Kumor, a principal research engineer at RSESC and UAH lead organizer of the competition. “Hosting this event reflects our commitment to developing talent, expanding opportunity and strengthening the partnerships that drive innovation.”

The championship is sanctioned by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (RECF), the governing body for the Aerial Drone Competition. The public is encouraged to attend and watch the competition, and admission is free.

Student teams must qualify at a REC Foundation–sanctioned qualifying event during the 2025–2026 season in order to compete. Participating teams represent middle and high schools from across the Southeast region, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The ADC is a STEM-focused, hands-on experience in which student teams compete in four distinct missions designed to assess technical proficiency, teamwork and problem-solving skills:

• Teamwork Mission: Two teams work together in a timed match to score points collaboratively on a field designed for strategic drone operations.
• Piloting Skills Mission: An individual team pilots a drone through an obstacle course, scoring points for precision, timing and execution.
• Autonomous Flight Skills Mission: Teams program their drones to fly autonomously, completing tasks without manual control and earning points for successful autonomous operations.
• Communications Mission: Teams interview with judges and explain their work, design decisions, programming logic and logbook documentation — demonstrating both technical understanding and communication skills.

Volunteers needed

UAH is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Volunteers play an essential role in the success of the Aerial Drone Competition, with several opportunities available for individuals of all experience levels. Field Reset volunteers support match operations by accurately resetting the competition field after each round and assisting the Field Manager or Head Referee as needed. This high-energy, physically active role is ideal for enthusiastic participants who can follow field diagrams, move efficiently and respond to direction.

Inspectors help ensure fair play by verifying that drones meet competition rules and specifications using a provided checklist. This moderate-activity role requires attention to detail, teamwork and the ability to follow established guidelines. No prior experience is required for either position, and training will be provided prior to the event.

The volunteer registration deadline is April 12. Students, faculty staff and community members are encouraged to participate. Those interested may register by filling out the ADC Volunteer Registration Form.

Newswise — For decades, global soil moisture monitoring from space has depended on reference datasets. Satellite observations, while indispensable, are rarely used alone; instead, their retrieval algorithms are typically calibrated or constrained using external soil moisture products derived from other satellites, models, or reanalysis systems. This practice has helped stabilize retrievals, but it has also introduced fundamental limitations—reducing transparency, constraining transferability across regions, and complicating long-term consistency as reference products evolve. A growing question in Earth observation is whether this dependence is truly unavoidable.

In a study published (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0939) on January 7, 2026, in the Journal of Remote Sensing, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and the China Meteorological Administration present PHYsics-based Soil rEflectivity Retrieval (PHYSER)—a physics-based framework for spaceborne GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval. The study demonstrates that global soil moisture can be retrieved independently, without relying on any external soil moisture referenSatellite Observationce products.

A long-standing constraint in satellite soil moisture retrieval

Soil moisture governs the exchange of water, energy, and carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere, influencing droughts, floods, ecosystem functioning, and agricultural productivity. Satellite remote sensing has become essential for monitoring soil moisture at regional to global scales, yet existing approaches face persistent challenges.

Conventional microwave sensors provide physically meaningful measurements but often struggle to balance spatial resolution, temporal coverage, and mission cost. More recently, Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) has emerged as a promising alternative. By passively receiving L-band signals continuously transmitted by navigation satellites such as GPS and BeiDou, GNSS-R offers low power consumption, all-weather capability, and dense spatiotemporal sampling.

Despite these advantages, most GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval methods still rely on empirical or semi-empirical relationships calibrated against external soil moisture products. This reliance weakens the physical interpretability of the results and limits their robustness when applied across regions, time periods, or future satellite missions. As GNSS-R constellations rapidly expand, the absence of an independent, physics-based retrieval framework has become a critical bottleneck.

Retrieving soil moisture from physical principles

PHYSER addresses this bottleneck by rethinking GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval from first principles. Rather than fitting GNSS-R observations to existing soil moisture datasets, the framework derives soil moisture directly from the physical interaction between navigation signals and the land surface.

At the core of PHYSER is the accurate reconstruction of soil surface reflectivity from GNSS-R measurements. This is achieved through a stepwise physical correction strategy. First, system-related biases inherent to the GNSS-R “multi-transmitter, single-receiver” observation geometry are corrected using inland water bodies as stable natural calibration targets. This step ensures consistency across different navigation signals and viewing geometries.

Second, land surface effects—particularly vegetation attenuation and surface roughness—are explicitly corrected using a physically based radiative transfer model. These land surface factors are shown to introduce larger uncertainties than satellite system errors, underscoring the importance of addressing them through physics-based correction rather than statistical adjustment.

With these corrections applied, soil reflectivity is transformed into soil permittivity using Fresnel equations. Soil moisture is then retrieved using established dielectric mixing models informed by global soil texture data.

Independent validation across space and ground observations

The PHYSER framework was evaluated using one year of observations from the BuFeng-1 A/B twin satellites, China’s first spaceborne GNSS-R mission designed for technology demonstration. The retrieved soil moisture fields were compared with SMAP satellite products, ERA5-Land reanalysis data, and hundreds of in situ measurement sites worldwide.

Across diverse climatic and land surface conditions, the PHYSER-based retrievals show strong spatial and temporal consistency with these independent datasets. While retrieval errors are comparable to—or only slightly higher than—those of empirical GNSS-R approaches, PHYSER achieves this performance while remaining fully independent of reference soil moisture products.

“This work shows that GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval does not have to be a statistical imitation of other products,” said a member of the research team. “By grounding the retrieval in physics, we gain transparency, robustness, and the ability to extend the method to future missions without retraining against external datasets.”

Implications for future Earth observation missions

As GNSS-R missions multiply and satellite constellations become denser, the need for scalable and physically interpretable retrieval methods is becoming increasingly urgent. PHYSER provides a pathway toward soil moisture monitoring that is not tied to any specific reference product or satellite mission.

The framework has the potential to strengthen climate reanalysis, improve hydrological forecasting, and support agricultural decision-making, particularly in data-sparse regions. With further refinement—especially in densely vegetated environments—PHYSER could help enable operational GNSS-R soil moisture products that complement, and potentially stand alongside, traditional microwave remote sensing systems.

###

References

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0939

Original Source URL

https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/remotesensing.0939

Funding information

This study is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. ZR2024QD048), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) project (Grant No. 42471511), the BUFENG-1 Application Extension Program of the China Spacesat Co., Ltd., the ESA-MOST China Dragon5 Programme (ID.58070), the Fengyun Application Pioneering Project (FY-APP-2021.0301), the Beijing Nova Program (Grant Nos. 20230484327 and 20240484540), and the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation project (Grant No. 2024JJ9186).

About Journal of Remote Sensing

The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.

Newswise — Billy Hudson, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Matrix Biology and the Elliott V. Newman Professor of Medicine, is receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2026, following a unanimous decision by Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) Chairman Nasser J. Kazeminy and the EIHS Board of Directors.

A native of rural Grapevine, Arkansas, Hudson joins the ranks of several U.S. presidents, Nobel laureates and influential leaders, including former President Bill Clinton and country music singer Glen Campbell, as people from Arkansas to receive the honor. Naji Abumrad, MD, a 2004 medalist, is also a Vanderbilt recipient.

Hudson was nominated by 2022 medalist Igor Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA, the world-renowned portrait artist who has been affiliated with the Hudson family and the Aspirnaut STEM Pipeline, founded to increase opportunities in science for talented youth from rural and diverse backgrounds, for more than a decade.

EIHS Chairman Kazeminy said Hudson was selected in recognition of his pioneering contributions to matrix biology and transformative discoveries in type IV collagen research, which have fundamentally advanced the understanding of kidney disease, including Alport syndrome, Goodpasture’s disease and diabetic kidney disease.

His decades of scientific leadership, groundbreaking structural insights into basement membrane biology, and successful translation of research into therapeutic innovation have shaped modern biomedical science, Kazeminy said. Equally inspiring was Hudson’s dedication to expanding opportunity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through initiatives such as the Aspirnaut STEM Pipeline, reflecting a commitment not only to discovery, but to developing the next generation of scientific leaders.

“Dr. Hudson’s personal and professional journey serves an inspiration to many. Selection for this prestigious honor is fitting given his substantial contributions to the field of science and for the numerous young lives he and his wife, Julie, continue to impact through the Aspirnaut program. I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Billy for achieving this distinguished award,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderbilt Health and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Hudson is accepting the award on behalf of his wife, Julie Hudson, MD, brother Johnny Hudson and sister Ann Kincl, who are co-founders of the Aspirnaut STEM Pipeline; his 13 high school classmates who helped implement the pipeline; and the nearly 400 high school and undergraduate students who have participated in the pipeline over the past two decades.

“I am so very excited and humbled to be selected for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. My journey from poverty and childhood abuse, which led to me dropping out of high school, to becoming a scientist, and now a medalist, is like being in ‘The Twilight Zone,’ where an ordinary person encounters extraordinary circumstances,” Hudson said.

“My mentors provided educational opportunities that enabled me to overcome my childhood challenges and establish the Aspirnaut Pipeline to help youth achieve their dreams. Education fuels hope and opportunity for a better tomorrow for all people, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.

Founded in 1986 by EIHS, the honor is presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated “outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically” and “reflect a proud commitment to our nation’s ideals of diversity, opportunity and service,” according to the organization.

“Dr. Hudson’s selection is a testament to a lifetime devoted to excellence, integrity and meaningful impact. His pioneering contributions and steadfast commitment to advancing knowledge embody the very spirit of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor,” EIHS Chairman Kazeminy said. “We are proud to celebrate his accomplishments and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved recognition,” he said.

EIHS has honored distinguished and diverse Americans including eight U.S. presidents; Nobel laureates Elie Wiesel and Malala Yousufzai; Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton; Bob Hope; Muhammad Ali; Frank Sinatra; Rosa Parks; Mike Wallace; and Rita Moreno.

The 2025 medalists included Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden; Pfizer Chairman and CEO, Dr. Albert Bourla; Co-Founder of Moderna, Robert Langer; and Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist, Steven Chu.

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor ranks among the nation’s most renowned awards, officially recognized by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, with each year’s recipients listed in the Congressional Record.

A total of 94 Americans will be honored in 2026 for their contributions in philanthropy, humanitarian advocacy, technological and medical innovation, and professional achievements.

From visionaries in the business and scientific fields, and members of the local, state and federal government, to philanthropists and influencers in the entertainment and sports industry, each medalist has embraced their personal immigrant history and recognizes the role that uniquely American opportunities played in helping them reach their goals.

“These individuals stand as beacons of resilience, embodying the timeless values of courage, compassion and dedication,” Kazeminy said. “Their diverse backgrounds and remarkable accomplishments serve as a testament to the power of unity and the boundless potential of the human spirit. As we recognize their indelible contributions, let us reaffirm our commitment to fostering inclusivity, understanding and goodwill across all borders.”

The full list of this year’s recipients will be announced in early March, and the medal ceremony will take place Saturday, May 16, during a black-tie gala held in Ellis Island’s Great Hall, which served as the gateway for 12 million immigrants to the U.S.

EIHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which, in addition to presenting the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, is a humanitarian organization supporting educational opportunities for students with immigrant heritage and preserving the Ellis Island National Monument.

For more details on the event and a complete list of honorees, please visit EIHS official site.

Newswise — West Virginia University empowered budding innovator Don Brodie to succeed by nurturing his passion for science and sense of curiosity. More than 50 years later, Brodie and his wife, Linda, are enriching academics, research and more to help future generations excel with a $5 million gift to strengthen leadership at the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

The couple’s gift, made through their family foundation, establishes the Linda and Don Brodie Deanship at the WVU Eberly College. The associated endowment provides broad support to advance the mission of the University’s largest academic unit, which serves more than 5,000 students across over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs. 

“From literature and the humanities to mathematics, natural sciences, and social and behavioral sciences, the reach of the WVU Eberly College is wide,” WVU President Michael T. Benson said. “This gift is an investment in the future of the University’s largest College, which serves as a launch point for students of all interests and majors, and we thank Linda and Don Brodie for their incredible show of support for WVU.”

The Brodie gift comes as WVU seeks a new leader to guide the Eberly College. Longtime Dean Gregory Dunaway will conclude 10 years at the College’s helm on June 30, although he will remain a faculty member.

Greenwood Asher & Associates is leading the national search for the next Eberly College dean.

“Education is the most powerful investment we can make in the future,” Don and Linda Brodie said. “Our hope is that this deanship strengthens leadership, inspires discovery and opens doors for students to reach their full potential.”

Eberly programs span diverse disciplines including chemistry, which sparked Don’s scientific interest.

A native of Philadelphia, Brodie was drawn to WVU by affordable out-of-state tuition and initially chose chemistry because the registration line was short. He said he appreciates the education he received from his professors, who encouraged his innovative mind and laid the groundwork for a career rooted in chemistry. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1969.

Brodie worked as a chemist and sales associate in the Philadelphia area through the 1970s. After he met and married Linda, they were inspired by their entrepreneurial parents to start a business.

With Linda’s support, Don partnered with his brother, Steve, to launch the Purolite Company from the couple’s basement in 1981. Over the next 40 years, the family-owned business grew into a global manufacturer of pharmaceutical and bioprocessing production products, industrial water treatment, chemical and refining for food processing, metals extraction, finishing and electroplating, and products used for nuclear power generation.

Brodie’s leadership as co-founder of Purolite contributed to the development of cost-effective ways to manufacture products for a cleaner environment, as well as groundbreaking innovations in medical treatment.

Linda Brodie played a pivotal role during Purolite’s formative years, applying her experience managing a law firm to lay the foundation for administration and finance operations. As the company grew, she continued to provide critical support, guidance and leadership.

The Brodies have amplified their impact in recent years through philanthropy. They established the Don and Linda Brodie Family Foundation to support the communities in which they live and create opportunities through education. Their giving is driven by their Jewish faith and shared values, anchored by strong beliefs in tradition, responsibility and integrity.

Their generous support for WVU includes two funds established within the Eberly College to support chemistry students and faculty pursuing research and discovery with the potential for commercialization.

“The Eberly College has been so fortunate to benefit from the generosity of Linda and Don Brodie,” Dunaway said. “They have made so many investments in the College to ensure opportunity and success for our students and faculty. This extraordinary gift reflects Don and Linda’s deep belief in Eberly and their desire to help the College thrive well into the future. It strengthens the foundation of the Eberly community to reach new heights in academic excellence, innovation and opportunities for those inside and outside of WVU.”

Don Brodie has also shared his time with WVU, serving as chair of the Eberly Advisory Committee and assisting with development efforts. He was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2012 and selected last year to receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Eberly College.

Don and Linda reside in Boca Raton, Florida. They are deeply devoted to their family, including their three adult children and five grandchildren.

The Brodie gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.