Hoping to inspire the next generation of Scientists…Professor Dr. Vern Singhroy is a ‘Special Person’

Sep 08, 2019 Features / Columnists, Special Person

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“As the Chief Scientist of satellites, I am truly gratified that I am part of a team that is providing valuable images to help folks all over the world, including the tiny country where I was born. It is my reverent hope that young and upcoming students can stand on my shoulders and reach for the stars.”

 

By Kiana Wilburg

Be it the intoxicating perfume of her fauna or the spellbinding splendour of her evening sunsets, Mother Earth has always managed to ignite our souls with her grandeur.
In some instances, she captures without intent to release, the hearts and minds of those privileged to call her home. This is the case with Dr. Vern Singhroy, a scientist, whose life remains committed to understanding the geography and ever-evolving science of the Earth.
So authentic and unrelenting is his dedication to this field, that Dr. Singhroy is arguably, one of the region’s most decorated and revered experts. In fact, he works for the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) which forms part of a Canadian federal government department called Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). For over forty years, CCRS has been developing and advancing the use of remote sensing and earth observation data, and Dr. Singhroy is the Chief Scientist of one of their most crucial constellation missions.

His unapologetic passion for studying and observing Earth, as well as his devotion to sharing those highly valued findings with governments around the world, are just two of the reasons why this son of the soil has been chosen as this week’s ‘Special Person’.

CHEERY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
During his interview with Kaieteur News, Dr. Singhroy, who was born at DeHoop, Mahaica, expressed that his love for nature can be traced to his childhood days. These, he said, were spent at # 30 Village, West Coast Berbice, with his parents, who loved working in the agriculture industry. In fact, they were rice farmers, millers and even ranchers.
The scientist who attended # 29 Public School and Berbice High intimated, “My childhood was like most of the children in the area. I had loving parents, a large family, and there was always sumptuous Guyanese food. You can say I was playful too. Like the other children, I indulged in picking fresh fruits directly from the neighbouring trees. I enjoyed climbing mango and guava trees and playing softball cricket, etc. I am still attached to my roots.”
While those cheery childhood memories still remain dear to his heart, the Professor stated that the flames for his love of nature were kindled during his journeys to and from primary and high schools. Those treks allowed for him to truly discover the simple yet extraordinary beauty of his homeland.
“I lived in New Amsterdam while going to Berbice High School, and I would go back to our village on the weekends to visit my family. I remember crossing the Berbice River every Monday morning and Friday afternoon with the Torani boat.”
“I remember too that I would always go to the front of the boat to enjoy the fresh river breeze and the beauty of the coastline and the fishing boats. So that, and the expansive green and yellow of my father’s rice fields; the bright green textures of the mangroves and the smooth grey mudflats were the triggers of my love for geography and earth sciences.”

ACADEMIC JOURNEY
That experience of Mother Nature’s divine beauty, led to a most praiseworthy pursuit of academic learning by Dr. Singhroy. It was this chapter of his life that would channel him in the direction of seeing his beloved earth from an aerial view. With the use of satellites, the Professor has the good fortune of relishing the exquisiteness of the frozen arctic, the Himalayas, deserts and the lush and expansive tropics.

Sharing the details of his academic journey, the now 70-year-old Dr. Singhroy noted that he had completed his A-Levels at Berbice High, and had taught Geography at the Berbice Educational Institute and Covent Garden Secondary for a few years.
Following this, he migrated to Canada where he would complete an Honours and a Masters in Earth Sciences at McMaster University and the University of Manitoba. Later, he completed his Ph.D. at the Department of Environmental and Resources Engineering at the State University of New York.
Dr. Singhroy shared that his Ph.D. thesis focused on the uses of satellite images for mineral exploration in northern Canada. With combined science and engineering degrees and as a registered professional engineer, he told Kaieteur News that he went on to work for the Earth and Remote Sensing Science Agencies for both the provincial and federal governments in Canada.
“I then took a year sabbatical to teach Earth Observation at the International Space University (ISU) in Strasbourg, France, and there, I still remain a Professor. I also supervise a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick as an adjunct Professor.”
Following that aspect of his academic life, Dr. Singhroy shared that he had applied to the Canadian Space Agency astronaut programme in the mid-90s. He said, “I made their shortlist out of 7000 applicants. If I had made it (the final cut that is), I would have been the first Guyanese in Space.”
While that did not pan out, Dr. Singhroy did teach students who later became astronauts.

A WORLD AUTHORITY
Furthermore, the scientist noted that for the last 30 years, he has been working with the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing which is an international centre of excellence focusing on satellite image research and application.
In this regard, Dr. Singhroy said, “I joined as a young research scientist and now, I am the Chief Scientist of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (a three-spacecraft fleet of Earth observation satellites by the Canadian Space Agency).”
“I also work with scientists from the main Space Agencies in US, Europe, India, and Japan to develop advanced and innovative imaging technology.”
He noted that his interest in earth sciences and global geography makes it easy to interpret images from various types of satellites with different sensors. In Canada, however, Dr. Singhroy noted that they specialize in radar satellites.
“Satellite images are quite useful for environmental and resources management, climate change, disaster mitigation, security, and governance. It is an exciting and innovative field with many applications. Currently, there are about 700 earth observation satellites that provide images. But these images need to be corrected and processed sometimes by high-performance computers before they are read.”
Further, Dr. Singhroy noted that with the high resolution and daily imaging capabilities of current satellites, many developed and developing countries are using space imaging routinely. He said, “This is why Canada invests billions on its uses. In my opinion, Guyana needs to start building capacity to integrate space advanced satellite images for many of its programmes, including its oil spill strategy.”
He added, “I am glad to be considered a world authority, with many governments and industry seeking my advice on these matters, and sometimes I am asked to give keynote addresses at international conferences…Where Guyana is concerned, I have conducted a training course attended by officials from many departments to introduce the potential of space imaging technology back in 2008 at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. In the future, I will be happy to provide more help if necessary.”
As it relates to the best part of his job, Dr. Singhroy noted that this would certainly, have to be in the opportunities presented to collaborate with scientists and government officials from over 40 countries over the years.
Dr. Singhroy said that training scientists and conducting projects in all these countries has been very rewarding.
“This sort of collaboration led to me becoming a member of the Air Canada Million Mile Club (This enables one to have access to elite flying status, that is to say, one million miles of free flying).”

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
Speaking to his accomplishments to date, Dr. Singhroy said that being the Chief Scientist of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) which was launched in June 2019, is perhaps “my greatest achievement”. He explained that the constellation consists of three satellites aimed at providing daily one-metre radar images anywhere in the world.
The Chief Scientist also noted that radar sees through clouds and darkness and the images are used globally for many applications. He asserted that RCM cost about US$1B to build, while noting that it took him and his team about 10 years to finish the project.
Dr. Singhroy further stated that as the chief scientist of this programme, he works closely with more than 100 scientists and engineers within the Government of Canada and industry to successfully launch RCM.
“We conduct research on its global and national uses. Canada is a resource-rich country like Guyana. It has forestry, minerals, hydrocarbons and uses satellite images for geological mapping and exploration, forest management, floods monitoring, crop inventory, governance, and security, etc.”
The Chief Scientist added that RADARSAT Constellation Mission is the third Canadian radar satellite. He shared that prior to this; there was RADARSAT-1 (1995) and RADARSAT-2 (2007). He said, “I am very happy to be the Chief Scientist for such an important mission for Canada involving advanced imaging and innovation.”
Speaking to his other accomplishments, Dr. Singhroy noted that he has co-authored four books including the Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing and has published over 300 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and international symposia. Further to this, for seven years he was also the Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing which provides a forum for the publication of scientific research and review articles.
Because of these endeavours, Dr. Singhroy has received many awards from the Government of Canada such as the Canadian Remote Sensing Society (CRSS) Gold Medal and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The avid reader has also been a recipient of special achievement awards from his home country.
While his life successes are indeed commendable, Dr. Singhroy confidently states that nothing beats being able to continuously observe and learn about the ever-evolving earth and sharing those experiences with the next generation. “The globe is one’s laboratory,” the Professor added.
“As the Chief Scientist of satellites, I am truly gratified that I am part of a team that is providing valuable images to help folks all over the world, including the tiny country where I was born. It is my reverent hope that young and upcoming students can stand on my shoulders and reach for the stars.”

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