Farouk El-Baz

Director, Center for Remote Sensing Research Professor of Remote Sensing at Boston University

Schools

  • Boston University

Links

Biography

Boston University

Dr. El-Baz, a veteran of NASA’s Apollo program of lunar exploration, is a pioneer in applying space images in the fields of geology, geography, and archaeology. He is particularly noted for research on desert landforms and the location of groundwater resources in arid lands. Under his direction, the Boston University Center for Remote Sensingwas selected in 1997 by NASA as a “Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing.”

Dr. El-Baz is a member of the United States National Committee for Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the new Alexandria Library, the Arab Science and Technology Foundation, the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, the Egyptian-American Affairs Council, the Moroccan-American Council, the World Affairs Council of Boston, as well as the editorial boards of several international professional journals. He is a member of many national and international professional societies and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Astronomical Society (London), and the Explorers Club (New York).

He has won numerous honors and awards, including NASA’s Apollo Achievement Award, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, and Special Recognition Award; the University of Missouri Alumni Achievement Award for Extraordinary Scientific Accomplishments; the Certificate of Merit of the World Aerospace Education Organization; the Golden Door Award of the International Institute of Boston; the Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and the Arab Republic of Egypt Order of Merit – First Class. He also serves as President of the Arab Society for Desert Research.

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Cases

Researchers rally around science advocate convicted in Egypt

September 13, 2017

Science Magazine Farouk El-Baz Scientists, engineers, and others are hoping an Egyptian court will reconsider a prison sentence given to one of the nation’s most prominent science advocates… Expert quote: “It will be OK… His hand is clean and his conscience is clear.” View full article

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Researchers rally around science advocate convicted in Egypt

August 11, 2017

Science Magazine quoting Farouk El-Baz, College of Engineering/ College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences “Scientists, engineers, and others are hoping an Egyptian court will reconsider a prison sentence given to one of the nation’s most prominent science advocates…” Expert quote: “It will be OK,” he says. “His hand is clean and his conscience […]

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HOW NASA’S SATELLITES CAN HELP SOLVE THE MIDDLE EAST WATER CRISIS

June 11, 2017

Newsweek quoting Farouk El-Baz, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences/ College of Engineering “For at least six of the past 10 years, Ali Saed, a farmer, grew no crops…” Expert quote: “Already, we are unable to produce much of the food we need; it’s a crisis.” View full article.   

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Schiaparelli begins descent: How did the ESA choose this Mars landing site?

October 17, 2016

Christian Science Monitor Farouk El-Baz & Bradley Thomson, College of Arts & Sciences On Sunday, The Schiaparelli began its daring descent to the Red Planet… Expert quote: “Among the highest-priority sites are those with subaqueous sediments or hydrothermal deposits. The ExoMars rover will have the capability to drill up to 2 meters into the subsurface and will […]

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Is ISIS at War With Civilization?

November 17, 2015

NECN Farouk El-Baz, College of Arts & Sciences View video of expert Farouk El-Baz

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The 400,000 Man March? A Brief History of Crowd Counting

October 16, 2015

Wall Street Journal (subscription required) Farouk El-Baz, College of Arts & Sciences, Center for Remote Sensing Turnstiles and ticket stubs are surefire ways to track the number of fans who attend sporting events, concerts and plays. But when masses gather for a gateless event—as they did last weekend to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the […]

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How big will the crowd be in Philadelphia?

September 27, 2015

Boston Globe (subscription required) Farouk El-Baz, Center for Remote Sensing, College of Arts & Sciences How big is the crowd in Philadelphia? Heaven only knows… Expert quote: “The people who take care of security and so on — they overestimate because they want to say ‘look at how many people we had to take care […]

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Professor Voices — Crowd estimation as cultural measurement of Pope Francis

September 4, 2015

Pope Francis’ trip to Cuba and the United States is just around the corner. Extraordinarily large crowds are expected at all his major events in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. Does the exact number of attendees matter? Can we learn anything from studying the crowds Pope Francis draws? Dr. Farouk El-Baz, an expert […]

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Is there hope for Egypt’s first space odyssey?

June 5, 2015

Al-Monitor Farouk El Baz, College of Arts & Sciences, Center for Remote Sensing The Egyptian dream of establishing a national space agency has often enticed the country’s scientists… Expert quote: “Egypt does not have radar satellites, nor those that take thermal images.” View full article    

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Female fighters being targeted by ISIS terrorist organization

April 3, 2015

WCVB Farouk El-Baz, College of Arts & Sciences Joseph Wippl, College of Arts & Sciences View video of experts Farouk El-Baz and Joseph Wippl

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