Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Emmanuel Devred is a research scientist at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Dartmouth. His research interests include marine optics, the development of bio-optical algorithms, and satellite remote sensing, integrating in situ measurements of bio-optical properties with the processing of long-term ocean color satellite data. His research finds applications in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, addressing issues related to phytoplankton ecology, habitat mapping, fisheries, and climate change.
Spectral Lab
University of Victoria
Maycira Costa is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. She holds a BSc in Biological Oceanography and an MSc and Ph.D. in Remote Sensing. As the director of the Remote Sensing Laboratory at UVic, Maycira coordinates a research program focused on using satellites to measure ocean ecosystem dynamics, particularly ocean productivity and nearshore habitats. She is currently examining changes in juvenile salmon habitats using data from satellites, UAVs, aerial photos, and vessels of opportunity. In addition to her research, Maycira is the co-chair of the Canadian Network of Ocean Colour Remote Sensing Researchers and has served as a scientific adviser to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and European Space Agency (ESA) as part of satellite mission programs and validation efforts.
Takuvik Joint International Laboratory
Université Laval and CNRS
Marie-Hélène Forget is the science coordinator at the Takuvik Joint International Laboratory. Her research interests lie in the use of ocean color remote sensing and in situ optical measurements to address biological questions related to phytoplankton primary production, biomass, and species distribution.
Canada Centre for Inland Waters
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Caren Binding leads a research program in aquatic optics and inland water remote sensing with Environment and Climate Change Canada, based at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, Ontario. Her work integrates in situ and lab-measured optical properties, radiative transfer modeling, algorithm development and validation, and satellite image processing to create remote sensing tools for water quality applications. She uses satellite imagery to monitor the temporal and spatial variability of lake water quality indicators, such as water clarity and algal blooms, and to better understand the impacts of lake, watershed, and climate-related drivers on water quality.
Shallow Water Earth Observation Laboratory
University of Ottawa
Anders Knudby is Associate Professor of Remote Sensing and GIS at the University of Ottawa, where he directs the Shallow Water Earth Observation Laboratory, and is the founder of the consulting firm Liquid Geomatics. With two decades of experience in remote sensing, Anders specializes in developing robust processing algorithms for optical satellite data. His research includes cloud detection, benthic habitat mapping, bathymetry, change detection, species distribution modeling, and machine learning.
Water related issues (Watersat)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Laurent Giugni is a Geographer with a background in remote sensing and GIS. He serves as the WaterSat Mission Manager and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) representative on water-related issues, as well as a Program Officer for the smartEarth funding initiative at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). With over 25 years of experience, Laurent has worked closely with industry, academia, governments, and NGOs, promoting the smart use of satellite data to develop innovative solutions for key environmental challenges. His work aims to benefit both Canadians and humanity as a whole.
Managing Director
Marine Environmental Observation Prediction & Response network (MEOPAR)
Rodrigo Menafra has been the Managing Director at MEOPAR since Sep 2019. With over 20 years of experience in coastal and ocean management and research across multiple countries, he has developed expertise in research project management, knowledge mobilization, and partnership development across the academic, government, and industry sectors.
WSP
Kiana Zolfaghari is a Remote Sensing Scientist who recently joined NetCOLOR. In her role, she is responsible for coordinating communications and organizing a national meeting that brings together stakeholders and end-users from government (municipal, provincial, and federal), industry, NGOs, and Indigenous groups to advance the use of remote sensing applications in aquatic environment monitoring. Her work aims to foster collaboration and strengthen engagement within the NetCOLOR community.