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Dr. Foresman, with
academic credentials in biology, ecology, engineering, and geography,
has pursued a career dedicated to devising strategies and contributing
to improved assessments, impact analysis, and early warning to
better cope with environmental threats facing humans and the planet;
and identifying emerging scientific and technological advances
related to these issues, while promoting availability of, and
enhancing access to, the scientific information needed by decision
makers, as well as the planet's citizens, for improved environmental
management and protection, on a multi-national, local and global
basis.
Working with the
technologies of GIS, remote sensing, and field survey techniques,
he has helped design and manage, at local to global levels, including
the UN and the United Nations Environment Programme, a worldwide
network of regional information centers and Earth research laboratories
oriented at implementing global systems to observe, assess, and
report on the conditions and trends of the planet's ecosystems,
critical habitats, and human environments
Dr. Foresman worked
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Headquarters,
in Washington, D.C., where he led the Digital Earth program as
national manager. He continues to help lead this program's legacy,
as founding member of the International Society of Digital Earth,
sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He continues to
serve on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations.
He served as a principal
investigator on a variety of scientific research programs sponsored
by NASA, US. EPA, US. Forest Service, National Science Foundation,
and other state and local agencies. His real-world experience
over twenty-six years includes private consulting, county government,
federal government, university, and international service. He
has over 80 professional publications, including the definitive
book on "The History of Geographic Information Systems,"
as well as book chapters, scientific papers, and over two hundred
talks and keynote speeches.
Dr. Foresman's private
life includes safaris, water sports, and historic home renovation
as resident curator for Maryland. Dr. Foresman lives with his
wife Joyce and their menagerie of animals in the Patapsco Valley
State Park.
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