Cerise Valenzuela MetzgerORANGE, CA. — Congressman Lou Correa visited Chapman University April 20 to deliver a $1 million grant, fueling continued research on climate change and California’s drought by the university’s Earth Systems Science and Data Solutions Lab.
Correa, who represents the 46th District, requested the bipartisan Consolidated Appropriations Act funds from the House Committee on Appropriations, in March of 2021 as one of his 10 Community Project Funding requests allowed by the committee for the fiscal year 2022.
The grant funds groundbreaking work by a Chapman University team lead by Hesham El-Askary, professor of earth systems science and remote sensing, director of computational and data sciences graduate programs and director of earth systems science and data solutions.
In the Chapman lab, the team’s research combines its members’ knowledge of earth systems with new breakthroughs in machine learning and data mining as well as artificial intelligence to assess and predict natural hazards, drought, and climate change-related issues. Their research also is assisting in the study of desertification, wildfires, and aerosols affecting renewable energy, marine environments, and the ability to achieve sustainable development goals.
Their recent studies have focused on the impact of aerosols on the retreat of the Sierra Nevada Glaciers in California, the use and validation of satellite observations to assess salinity of the state’s agricultural soils, and drought projections.
“Droughts and climate change are having a significant influence on agricultural production in California, and every Californian is feeling the effects,” said Rep. Correa. “Professor Hesham El-Askary and Chapman University have established scientific and mapping capabilities that have the potential to become a geoscientific classification system that is universally applicable in response to these crucial concerns.
“Professor El-Askary’s and Chapman University students’ outstanding work is vital in combating climate change, and ensuring our community establishes a permanent research center dedicated to addressing global problems,” Correa added.
About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university located in Southern California. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution and offers personalized education to more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Based in the city of Orange, Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. In 2019, the university opened its 11th college, Fowler School of Engineering, in its newest facility, Keck Center for Science and Engineering. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
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Media Contact:
Cerise Valenzuela Metzger, Director of Public Relations, cmetzger@chapman.edu
Desk: 714-289-3143 Mobile: 657-390-6760
