A DigitalGlobe expert and Congressman Mike Honda, the U.S. Representative for California's 17th congressional district, will show students at Peterson Middle School exclusive high-resolution satellite images of significant environmental damage brought about by overdevelopment, population growth and climate change. They will also view images that highlight the progress over time of projects to mitigate degradation to natural resources and habitats. The goal of this Earth Day event is to engage students in becoming good stewards of the environment, and inspire them to take action to protect the land. Students will also learn from images of restoration projects that are helping to reverse those losses.
Seeing what others cannot see -- a perspective delivered by high-resolution images of Earth over time -- can mean the difference between an uninformed decision and the right decision. By chronicling the Earth from space, DigitalGlobe provides a unique vantage point, transparency and context about our changing planet. As event sponsor, DigitalGlobe will give students a bucket as a reminder that by taking steps to minimize water use they can save the equivalent of one bucket of water a day.
In 2009, Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley, Calif.) reintroduced and championed the Global Warming Education Act, an educational program within the National Science Foundation to broaden American's understanding of human-induced global warming, its consequences and potential solutions.
Congressman Honda is also a longtime supporter of the Santa Clara Unified School District. "Today's event is a prime example of how industry, government and education can join hands to champion a cause that affects every Californian," he said. "Changes in our environment, and over an extended period, have never been quite as easy to spot or as compelling as made possible by high-resolution imagery from satellites. It's easy to speak of cumulative environmental damage, but something else to see it with the help of high-resolution satellite images that can inspire students -- and all citizens -- to become catalysts for change."
Dr. Stanley Rose III, superintendent of the Santa Clara Unified School District said, "The reduction of the State's water table, the increasing temperatures that have -- among many other things -- affected the learning environment for children, and the erosion of our Pacific shores, all exemplify why it is so critical that we all treat the human effect on climate with the highest urgency. As we speak, districts across the State are changing science curriculum to account for a long overdue emphasis on environmental science. This event brings into sharp resolution an issue that no one can afford to disregard any longer. We thank Congressman Honda and DigitalGlobe for making this important effort part of Earth Day for Santa Clara Unified Students and our larger community."
Students contrast and compare "living color" views of the Bay Area
To provide students with visual evidence of change, DigitalGlobe experts will present images taken at different points in time of marshes and wetland that document damage as well as positive effects of restoration projects underway. DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 satellite is the first commercial satellite to incorporate 16 high-resolution spectral bands that capture information in the visible and near-infrared and the short-wave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. DigitalGlobe's 70-petabyte time-lapse image library contains images dating back to 1999.
The satellite images powerfully depict changes in ecosystems throughout the state, including four in the Bay Area:
- Before and after images of Knight Island wetlands in 2011 and 2015
- Dumbarton Wetland Restoration project
- Lake Shasta in 2011 and 2015
- Lake McClure in 2010 and 2015
- Peterson Middle School, Sunnyvale, Calif. in 2016
Beyond the Bay Area, DigitalGlobe satellites are actively monitoring environmental changes throughout the world, driving awareness among citizens, communities and governments.
"Because our planet is constantly changing, there is a great need for accurate, current, visual evidence to support critical business and social decisions," said Taner Kodanaz, Global Sustainability Director for DigitalGlobe. "The most valuable insights require seeing what others can't see. DigitalGlobe combines our unique vantage point and our industry-leading technology with the highest resolution imagery available to inform strategies to manage natural resources with confidence. We need to empower our children to take action with events like this that demonstrate the changes that are occurring in their backyard and around the globe."
About the Event
Venue: Peterson Middle School, 1380 Rosalia Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Day and Time: Friday, April 22, 2016, 10-11 a.m. PT
Activities: Presentation of satellite images and what they show; discussion with students; comments by Congressman Mike Honda, closing with a "Selfie from Space" of students, faculty and staff
Additional Resources
- Link to satellite images: https://digitalglobe.box.com/s/yxbrfknlg0sqs51pw70qekippdujj0bi
- Transcript of Global Warming Education Act: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4461/text
- Profile of Peterson Middle School: http://pms-scusd-ca.schoolloop.com
- Follow DigitalGlobe on Twitter at @DigitalGlobe or like on
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About DigitalGlobe
DigitalGlobe is a leading provider of commercial high-resolution earth observation and advanced geospatial solutions that help decision makers better understand our changing planet in order to save lives, resources and time. Sourced from the world's leading constellation, our imagery solutions deliver unmatched coverage and capacity to meet our customers' most demanding requirements. Each day customers in defense and intelligence, public safety, civil agencies, map making and analysis, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure management, navigation technology, and providers of location-based services depend on DigitalGlobe data, information, technology and expertise to gain actionable insight.
About Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara Unified School District serves over 15,300 TK-12 students, in addition to students in Preschool through Adult School. Neighborhoods in the Cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Cupertino comprise the District's 56 square-mile area. Santa Clara Unified prides itself on having teachers, classified employees and administrators who are dedicated, experienced professionals who care about each student's well-being and academic preparation.
Editorial Contacts Turner Brinton 303.684.4545 turner.brinton@digitalglobe.com James Cameron Mobile: (650) 279-4691 digitalglobe@10fold.com