The abstract you have submited
Aerospace and remote sensing education in the Geography schools of Moscow and Cambridge universities Tutubalina O.V.,
The education considered includes Earth observation, observation of planets, and associated remote sensing techniques applied by geographers. The two well-known universities under comparison, namely the Lomonosov Moscow State University, and the University of Cambridge, UK have well established traditions of geographical remote sensing. Faculty of Geography, Russia, is one of the largest in the world with its over 860 staff and over 1000 undergraduates. It has several laboratories dedicated to photogrammetry, remote sensing and aerospace methods, and took part in large national Earth observation programmes, such as developing and assessing first multispectral cameras for Earth-orbiting spacecraft. Basic remote sensing courses are offered to all undergraduates specialising in physical geography (over two thirds of all students). Many specialised courses, including field remote sensing, are offered to students at the Dept of Cartography and Geoinformatics (over 100 undergraduates). There is a remote sensing and GIS specialisation in the Faculty s MSc in Geography. Several textbooks have been published specifically on Remote Sensing for Geography. Computer facilities are variable, and the library though good is not up-to-date. The undergraduate course is 5 years long and includes four field courses and three dissertations.
Cambridge s Department of Geography is smaller (around 110 staff and less than 400 undergraduates). It also has rich traditions in remote sensing and incorporates the famous Cambridge Aerial Photography Unit, which has several small planes and specialised imaging equipment. Undergraduates have some remote sensing courses and there is a successful one-year MPhl in GIS and Remote Sensing. Overall the Cambridge department is better equipped with computer and specialised equipment per student, and has very good library and information resources. The undergraduate course is 3 years long and includes one field course and one dissertation.
Overall the Cambridge s remote sensing education is less developed at the undergraduate level, but offers more opportunities that in Moscow at MPhil/MSc and PhD level.
Moscow-Cambridge cooperation in remote sensing goes back to at least 1993 with a long-term joint research project on ecosystem assessment in the Arctic. A further initiative being explored is an international field school in remote sensing techniques for ecosystem assessment, to be held in the Russian European Arctic in July/August 2007.
|