Speakers and Mini-courses Teachers
Participants who already confirmed their presence.
MSc. Adriana Elysa Alimandro Corrêa
Adriana Corrêa is the Coordinator of the Natal Regional Unit (URRN) of the Directorate of Strategic Intelligence and New Business of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and a member of the technical staff (technologist) of the effective staff of federal public servants. Previously, Adriana worked in the Satellites and Applications Coordination (CSA) of the AEB Portfolio Management Board (DGEP) on educational and technological projects in the space area. Throughout his professional career, his activities have included monitoring small university and entrepreneurial satellite projects (FloripaSat, SPORT, SERPENS, Itasat, Alfa Crux, and others), monitoring satellite projects and applications carried out by the National Institute for Space Research – INPE (Amazonia 1, CBERS 4A), and coordination and participation in educational activities and scientific dissemination events, among other activities. Adriana holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in Electronic Systems Engineering and Automation with an emphasis on the space area from the University of Brasília. In her master's degree, she had the opportunity to study launch vehicles in Ukraine. In 2019, she had the opportunity to attend a training course in India on the assembly, integration, and testing of satellites, taught by ISRO.
Dra. Aline Bessa Veloso
Aline Bessa Veloso holds a PhD in Physics from UnB (2015), a Master's in Physics from Unicamp (2007) and a degree in Physics from UnB (2004). She has worked as a Physics teacher in several high school and university institutions. He has experience in science communication, having worked at the L. R. Ingersoll Physics Museum of the Physics Department at the University of Wisconsin in the United States and at the Canal Ciencia Portal of the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT/MCTI). She has been part of the Technical Staff at the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) since 2016 where she has worked in the Satellite, Applications and Development Directorate (DSAD) and the Space Transport and Licensing Directorate (DTEL). Currently, she is the Coordinator of Competences and Technology Development (CDT) at AEB, where she coordinates several educational and technology development projects. Among the projects we can highlight the AEB Escola Program and the MAPTEC Project.
Dra. Angela M. Stickle
Dr. Angela Stickle is a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, with a background in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, magnetospheric physics, and impact processes on planetary surfaces. She specializes in hypervelocity impact processes and dynamic failure of materials. She is the Impact Modeling Working Group lead for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, Deputy Principal-Investigator for the Mini-RF radar and Co-I for the LRO-LAMP instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and a Co-I on the Dragonfly mission. Her research includes analyzing young impact craters on the Moon to better understand ejecta emplacement processes, impact modeling on asteroids and rocky/icy bodies, planetary defense testing, and working to understand and evaluate available technology for future lunar surface missions. Asteroid 36986 Stickle is named in her honor.
Dr. Antonio Fernando Bertachini de Almeida Prado
Antonio Fernando B. de Almeida Prado is Head of the Graduate Division and Pro-Rector of Graduate Studies at INPE. reserached in the area of Aerospace Engineering, with emphasis on Space Trajectories. Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of São Paulo (1985), Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of São Paulo (1986), Master's degree in Space Sciences/Orbital Mechanics from the National Institute for Space Research (1989), Master's (1991) and PhD (1993) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Member of the "International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)". Elected “Associate Fellow” of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Honored by the Int. Astronomical Union (IAU): Asteroid 1999 GG9 (29873) named "Bertachini". He was Head of the Division of Space Mechanics and Control at INPE between 2009 and 2015, General Coordinator of Graduate Studies at INPE between 2007 and 2020, Pro-Rector of INPE between 2024 and 2021. Recognized as one of the most cited researchers in the field of Space Engineering by research conducted by Elsevier and Stanford University.
MSc. Catarina Paes Duarte
Catarina Paes Duarte (AIR Centre) is the Events and Network manager of the AIR Centre. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics a post-graduation in Science and Technology Management and Policies from NOVA University of Lisbon and a master's degree on Entrepreneurship and Culture Studies from University Institute of Lisbon. She was international Cooperation Advisor at Portuguese Embassies in São Tomé and in Dili and Director of the Portuguese Cultural Centre in São Tomé, and in the Principe Island node. In 2015 she was mandated by the Portugal Embassy as the institutional representative for the official committee for the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the Portuguese arrival on East Timor. She was science and technology Project Manager at FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology).
Dr. Claus Wehmann
Dr. Claus Wehmann received his Physics degree in 2001 from Federal University of Ceará (UFC), his Master's degrees in Physics from Federal University of Ceará (2003) and his Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering in 2010 from Technological Institute of Aeronautics. He was a fellow at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) until 2012. He is currently researching rocket propulsion and Wind-turbine aerodynamics. He has experience in Physics, development of rocket engines, working mainly on the following topics: solid-, hybrid- and liquid-propellant propulsion, and aerodynamics of wind turbines. Dr. Claus Wehmann coordinate the UFC's Aerospace Development Group (GDAe) who seeks to improve and disseminate matters related to Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Daniel Alejandro Vila
Dr. Daniel Alejandro Vila received his Meteorological Sciences degree from University of Buenos Aires, his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences in 2005 from University of Buenos Aires and his PostDoc from University of Maryland, USA. He has experience in Geosciences, with emphasis on Satellite Meteorology. He held the research position, between 2010 and 2021, in Remote Sensing at the Satellite and Environmental Systems Division of the Center for Weather Forecast and Climate Studies (CPTEC)/National Institute for Space Research (INPE), where he developed research activities related to the hydrological cycle and operational product development. Areas of activity included: precipitation estimation from satellites, life-cycle of convective systems, very short-range forecasting using radar and geostationary satellite images, and several validation of products generated by meteorological satellites. He currently holds the position of Technical Coordinator for Infrastructure at the Regional Office for the Americas (RAM)/ World Meteorological Organization.
Eng. Diego Rodrigo Souza
Diego Rodrigo Souza is an electronic engineer, works at the Division of Satellites and Meteorological Sensors (DISSM) at National Institute for Space Research (INPE), receiving and processing data from geostationary and low orbit satellites. He also acts as the focal point of the Virtual Laboratory of the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) in the organization and participation as an instructor in national and international training courses. He is currently Co-Chair of the WMO Coordination Group on Satellite Data Requirements for the Americas and the Caribbean, having served the international community of satellite data users for over 10 years.
Dr. Ernesto López Baeza
Ernesto Lopez Baeza, Associate Professor of Applied Physics at Department of Earth Physics & Thermodynamics, University of Valencia (1987-2021) and Director of the Climatology from Satellites Group (2000-2021). He is currently now Honorary Professor at the Environmental Remote Sensing Research Group from Sep 2021 and Scientific Advisor at Albavalor, Spanish ACRI-ST's filial company at University of Valencia Science Park. He is responsible for the Valencia Anchor Station EO validation site since its origin, Nov 2001 and successfully managed ESA Projects related to EarthCARE BBR, SMOS, technical assistances and loan agreements for ELBARA-II, GNSS-R OceanPal, several Announcement of Opportunities (AOs) for the validation of SMOS, EPS MetOp and OLCI and coordinated a significant number of campaigns at the Valencia Anchor Station related to CERES, GERB, EPS MetOp, SMOS (EuroSTARRS, SVRT Campaigns, CAROLS, TOSCA-CAROLS, ELBARA-II), OLCI. Ernesto has been the Coordinator of RESEWAM-O - Remote Sensing for Water Management Optimisation (EIP Water Action Group AG132) European Innovation Partnership on Water, EU (May 2013-Sep 2020). Ernesto is currently a member of the University's Sustainability Commission and responsible for sustainability issues in the Faculty of Physics and is fully motivated to develop Earth Observation activities in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also in Curricular Sustainability by fostering the inclusion of the SDGs in science and engineering curricula.
MSc. Fabio Hochleitner
Fabio Hochleitner holds a degree in Meteorology from the Institute of Geosciences (IGEO) and a Master's degree in Civil Engineering (Water Resources/Atmospheric Sciences) from the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering (COPPE), both from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). PhD thesis for the development of methodology for the creation of "Integration and Analysis of Multisensor Data for Development of Digital Twins in Socio-Environmental Applicationsl" at the Laboratory of Computational Methods in Engineering (LAMCE) of COPPE / UFRJ. He worked as a Substitute Professor at the Department of Meteorology teaching the subjects of Numerical Methods and Computational Modeling. Founder of Aquamet, a technology-based company spin-off from LAMCE at the UFRJ Technology Park specialized in the area of Earth Observation and creation of environmental Digital Twins. Currently works as a Research Scientist at LAMCE/COPPE/UFRJ in the area of remote sensing of the atmosphere and acquisition of environmental data, being coordinator of the Earth Observation Center. Researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in the area of bioclimatology associated with severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS) and arboviruses at CIDACS - Center for Integration of Data and Knowledge for Health.
Dr. Garik Gutman
Dr. Garik Gutman, the NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change (LCLUC) Program Manager, received his Ph.D. in Climate Modeling in 1984. Since 1985, Dr. Gutman conducted research at NOAA/NESDIS for about 15 years applying remote sensing in studies of Earth's land surface vegetation, for which he received the U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award. He is author of over 80 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and of several chapters in various climate- and land-cover related scientific volumes. Over the last two decades, Dr. Gutman has been leading the LCLUC program at NASA Headquarters as well as Landsat-related activities. He served as EO-1 Program Scientist to the end of the mission and is now Program Scientist for Landsat and Terra missions. Dr. Gutman's research interests include the use of remote sensing at moderate to very high spatial resolution for detecting changes at land surface, analyzing their impacts of these changes on climate, environment, and society, and identifying land-use hotspots. In 2023, Dr. Gutman received NASA's Exceptional Service Medal.
Dr. Antonio Geraldo Ferreira
Antonio Geraldo Ferreira received his Physics degree from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro-SP Campus. He has a specialization in satellite area from National and Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-USA) and obtained a master's degree in Tropical Marine Sciences (Concentration area: Remote Sensing Techniques applied to fishing in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean at Marine Science Institute (LABOMAR) linked to the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) / National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The PhD was obtained in the Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Termodinámica de la Universidad de Valencia, Spain. From 1996 to 2005 and 2010 to February 2011, he was a Head of the Meteorology Department of the Ceará Foundation for Meteorology and Water Resources (FUNCEME). He was Vice-Chair of Sub-Commission A3 (Studies on Land Processes and Morphology) of COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), based in Paris-France, from 2010 to 2018). In 2022 he was elected vice-chair of the Capacity Building Fellowship Program and Alumni (PCB FPA) of COSPAR for the period from 2022 to 2026. Since 1997, he takes part of the PIRATA Brazilian Scientific Committee (Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Atlantic - a cooperative project between Brazil, France, and USA). The PIRATA's project is linked to INPE-MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations). Nowadays he is Associated II Professor at LABOMAR, where teaches, for undergraduate and graduate levels, classes related to Geoprocessing and Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing applied to Oceanography, Meteorology and Climatology, and Climatology and Global Changes. At UFC, Geraldo is EOLlab's coordinator where he guides students on topics related to Earth Observation from Space.
MSc. Girly Delanny Menezes de Lucena
Girly Delanny Menezes de Lucena is a Project Data Systems Engineer for the Deep Space Network(DSN) at NASA-Jet propulsion laboratory in California. She works with the Telemetry Track and Commanding part of the DSN. Girly is known as Gigi Lucena in the US. Previously, Gigi worked as a software developer at a company in Brazil called Unit Software for 8 years. Gigi has an AS in computer programming at SM college, a BS in computer science at CSUN and is working on her Masters degree at Georgia Tech. The focus of her masters degree is Computer Systems. She is a co-author on the paper Scheduling Within a Demand Access Paradigm for NASA's Deep Space Network. Some projects that Gigi worked on at NASA DSN are Robo- Scheduling Service, Spacecraft for scientists, DSN Aperture Fee Calculator, Working Location Tracker. She also previously worked in Flight Software, Swarms of Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vehicles, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).
Glenn Fedzer
Glenn Fedzer is Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Counselor of the US Embassy in Brasília, Brazil. As a diplomat, Glenn has served in Nicaragua, New Zealand, Gabon, Sierra Leone, among others. He served in Armored Cavalry and Transport in the US Army as reservist before joining the US State Department, and he worked as a production supervisor in private industry. Glenn is married to an american diplomat, who is currently also working at the US Embassy in Brasilia.
Msc. João Sérgio Beserra de Lima
João Sergio Beserra de Lima has been an Analyst in Science and Technology at the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) since 2016, a PhD candidate, and a Master in Information Science in the field of Knowledge Management at the University of Brasília (UnB). His research has primarily focused on understanding how the management and governance of knowledge risks can influence and optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of space organizations. He received his Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the Catholic University of Brasília (2002) and completed a postgraduate course, Globalization, Justice and Human Security, carried out by the Superior School of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Union - ESMPU in partnership with the Institute for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian International Law at Ruhr- University in Bochum, Germany. He was an employee at the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT), under the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations, and Communications from August 2009 to June 2016.
Dr. José Luiz Moutinho
José Luiz Moutinho is a Biologist, with a bachelor's degree in Zoology, graduated from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1981, and an Architect, graduated from Santa Ursula University in Rio de Janeiro, in 1988, with equivalence conferred by the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon in 1989. Her has Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management from the Institute of Innovation, Technology and Development Policies (IN+) of Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) in 2005. He currently is the Chief Business & Network Officer for the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre). Jose Luiz Moutinho is the Coordinator of the BlueMissionAA CSA, Co-leader of the All-Atlantic Marine Research Infrastructure Network (AA-MARINET), Co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Geo Blue Planet Initiative, Member of the Atlantic Strategy 2.0 Task Force Pillar IV: Healthy ocean and resilient coasts, Associate member of the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) Task Force on Remote Sensing of Marine Litter and Debris, External Consultant for the Portuguese National Committee for the Un Decade of Ocean Science, Member of the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) working group on capacity development, and Producer of the Networking Fridays Webinar series.
Eng. MSc. Lázaro Aparecido Pires de Camargo
Receveid his Electrical/Electronic Engineering degree in 1997 from the University of Vale do Paraíba. His Master in Space Engineering and Technology from National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in 2018. He has been working at INPE since 1995 in various activities, with emphasis on software development for controlling and acquiring data from ionosphere using radar sensing. He worked as undergraduate professor at ETEP Faculdades in São José dos Campos between 1999 and 2015. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Space Systems Engineering at INPE in the area of nanosatellite payloads and works at the Small Satellite Division (DIPST) with emphasis on electronics and computing in nanosatellite projects for the BiomeSat and RaioSat missions.
Eng. Luísa Santos
Luísa Santos is mechanical engineering and holds a bachelor's degree in Science and Technology at UFRN. Associate member of the Brazilian Association of Rocketry (BAR). She has been researching in the aerospace area and disseminating about science and technology, mainly for girls and young people, for over 5 years.Luísa has a history of events and projects in the area of academic rockets, where she was already part of the board of directors of the Aerospace Federation of the Northeast (FAERNE) .She collaborates with research at the Habitat Marte Space Analogue Station, where she is the Brazilian with the most face-to-face analog missions. In addition, she is a researcher at the Space Generation Advisory Council, where she works in the area of gender diversity in astronaut selections in the DIVINAS group and also in the Figures group, where she contributes to experiments and management of similar missions. More recently, she worked as an intern at the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), as well as specializing at the University of Buenos Aires in the area of Aerospace Industry and Systems. Finally, she is a co-founder of the Brazilian astronautics community: Geração de Marte - Futuros Astronautas.
Eng. Marcio Akira Harada
Marcio Akira Harada is a federal civil servant in the Science and Technology career, performing the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator (CMA) of the Space Sector Governance Board (DGSE) of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) where he has been active since 2016. He worked for 9 years at the Aerospace Science and Technology Department (DCTA) of the Aeronautics Command (COMAER), 8 years at the Aeronautics and Space Institute (IAE) and 1 year at the Industrial Development and Coordination Institute (IFI). PhD in Aerospace Sciences from the Air Force University (UNIFA), Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA-2005), Specialization in Science and Technology Policy Management from the National School of Public Administration (ENAP-2019), Specialization in Technologies and Information Systems from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC-2011), Specialization in Public Management from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR-2014) and Graduated in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR-2003).
Dr. Milton Kampel
Dr. Milton Kampel holds a degree in Oceanography, a Master's degree in Remote Sensing, a PhD in Biological Oceanography, and a Postdoctoral at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. He is currently Senior Researcher at the Brazilian National Space Research Institute (INPE), Earth Sciences General-Coordination, Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division. Leader of the Monitoring Oceans from Space Laboratory (MOceanS), Professor at the Post-Graduate Program in Remote Sensing at INPE, responsible for the disciplines of Introduction to Remote Sensing and Remote Sensing of Climate, Adviser of PhD, Master, and Scientific Initiation (undergraduate) students. Has interest in the following lines of research: Remote sensing of oceanic, coastal, and inland aquatic systems, Monitoring of marine ecosystems, land-ocean interactions, air-sea interactions, coral reefs, and mangroves.
Dr. Othon Cabo Winter
Dr. Othon Winters receveid his Physics degree from UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, his Master in Sciences from ITA - Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, and his Ph.D. in Dynamics of the Solar System from the University of London - United Kingdom. He was vice-chair of the Panel on Satellite Dynamics of the COSPAR-Committee on Space Research (2010-2017). He was president of the Brazilian National Committee for Astronomy of the IAU - International Astronomical Union (2014-2018). In 2017 the IAU - International Astronomical Union assigned the name (10697) Othonwinter to the asteroid "1981 EO40" in recognition of his research in orbital dynamics with application to the stability of multiple asteroid systems. He works as an full professor in Orbital Dynamics at UNESP.
Dr. Rafael Santos
Rafael Santos is a Technologist in Data Processing from the Federal University of Pará (1990), and obtained his master's and doctorate in Computer Science (Applied Artificial Intelligence) at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, respectively in 1995 and 1998. He was a visiting researcher and postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, USA and a visiting researcher at Kyushu Sangyo Daigaku in Fukuoka, Japan. He is currently a senior technologist at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais-INPE working in research and development in artificial intelligence applications (data mining, image processing, intelligent systems, data science/e-science techniques and applications). He is also coordinator of the Coordination of Applied Research and Technological Development and coordinator of the Graduate Program in Applied Computing since 2015.
Dra. Raissa Estrela
Dr. Raissa Estrela is a NPP fellow at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. She receveid her Physics degree in 2004 from Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. In 2017, Raissa receveid her Master's degree in Geospatial Sciences and Applications from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. She receveid her Ph.D. from the same institution in 2020, winning the Ph.D. at-large prize from the International Astronomical Union. Raissa aims to look for planets that may have the possibility of harboring life. For this, she seeks to characterize the atmosphere of planets outside the solar system (known as exoplanets) using the Hubble Space Telescope, studying their composition and evolution.
Dra. Rosa Duran
Rosa Doran, has a degree in Physics from the Pontifical Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil; a Master's degree in High Energy and Gravitation, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon: "Schwarzschild Black Holes and its Cosmological Applications" and a PhD in Science Teaching from the University of Coimbra: "On Teacher Training and Community Building for Innovation in Education: Strategies to Improve Science Learning in Classroom.". She is currently president of NUCLIO (Núcleo Interativo de Astronomia e Inovação em Educação), a non-profit association and ONG for development, dedicated to innovation in education. At international level, she is President of the executive board of the Global Hands-on Universe Association (www.globalhou.net), a global institution dedicated to the Teaching of Astronomy; President of the Galileo Teacher Training Program for teacher training, one of the legacies of the International Year of Astronomy 2009; President of the COSPAR education panel co-chair of the Portuguese Language Office for Astronomy for Development of the International Astronomical Union. She was awarded with the International Astronomical Union's first prize for the astronomy teaching.
Dr. Walter Abrahão Dos Santos
Received his Electronic Engineering degree in 1987 from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), his Master degreee in Systems and Control in 1992, and his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2008, both in Electronic and Computer Engineering (ITA). He is currently a senior technologist at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in the Small Satellites Division. He has experience in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, with emphasis on Model Driven Systems Engineering, Nanosatellites, Software Engineering. He is interested in the following topics: cognitive radios and SDR (Software Defined Radio), real-time systems, design and development of digital microsystems, parallel processing, robotics, Kalman filtering and digital control, artificial satellites, telematics, information systems, mobile and pervasive computing, computer networks, satellite-based information services, multi-agent systems, and infrastructures for e-Science and e-Engineering.