51视频

05/21/2025
By Ed Brennen

When devastating wildfires swept through Southern California earlier this year, Los Angeles officials needed fast, accurate information: Where were the fires spreading? How severe was the burn damage? And where was the toxic smoke drifting? For answers, they turned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 鈥� and to 51视频 environmental science alum William Stefanov 鈥�88.

As senior Earth system scientist at NASA鈥檚 Johnson Space Center in Houston, Stefanov is part of the space agency鈥檚 Disaster Response Coordination System (DRCS). Using photos and data from the International Space Station and other remotely sensed data from orbital and airborne platforms, the DRCS produced disturbance maps, burn severity assessments and even methane emission analyses.聽

鈥淲e worked directly with the California Governor鈥檚 Office of Emergency Services, the LA County Office of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the California State Guard and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, responding to their requests and making sure everyone got what they needed,鈥� says Stefanov, who notes that the vantage point from space is crucial when responding to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e on the ground, you鈥檙e limited to what鈥檚 around you. From orbit, you get a broader, more holistic view,鈥� he says.聽

This is just one example of how Stefanov鈥檚 work at NASA turns Earth science into practical tools for emergency response and long-term resilience planning.

Stefanov has spent over two decades with NASA. Last November, he stepped into his current role as senior Earth system scientist in the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division. He has also served as the International Space Station program scientist for Earth observations since 2014, developing the space station as a remote sensing platform for research and data collection to support disaster response.

Originally from Webster, Massachusetts, Stefanov enrolled at 51视频 as an engineering major. But after a year, he opted to change course.

鈥淚鈥檝e always loved rocks,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he environmental science degree, with a geology concentration, really caught my interest.鈥�

The department was small at the time 鈥� just three faculty members, as Stefanov recalls 鈥� which meant a lot of one-on-one interaction. Professor Nelson Eby, a geochemistry and petrology expert, had a lasting impact on Stefanov as his senior thesis advisor.

鈥淚t was a privilege to do a senior thesis under Professor Eby. That experience taught me how to do science,鈥� says Stefanov, who also credits the school鈥檚 unique approach to environmental science education for setting the stage for his interdisciplinary career.聽

鈥淲e were required to take classes in biology, ecology and atmospheric science 鈥� courses that wouldn鈥檛 have been mandatory in a more classical geology curriculum at other universities at the time,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat broad foundation helped me later in my career, particularly when it came to communicating across disciplines using remote sensing as a common language.鈥�

After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree, Stefanov worked briefly in environmental consulting before pursuing graduate studies at Arizona State University. He earned a Ph.D. in geology and stayed on to support long-term ecological research. In 2004, an opportunity at NASA鈥檚 Johnson Space Center 鈥� training astronauts in Earth science 鈥� brought him to Houston.

Part of that work includes teaching crew members aboard the International Space Station what to look for when taking digital photos with handheld cameras.

鈥淲e realized early on that when astronauts understand why they鈥檙e being asked to take certain images, they tend to collect better data,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o, we train them on targets like volcanoes, hurricanes and cities 鈥� how to spot them, and why those observations matter.鈥�

While most of Stefanov鈥檚 work focuses on Earth, the principles also apply to NASA鈥檚 lunar and planetary exploration missions, including Artemis, the moon exploration mission meant to prepare for eventual missions to Mars. Stefanov says the crew Earth observations team he works with is beginning to adapt its International Space Station-based techniques to support science and imagery on the moon.

Looking ahead, Stefanov鈥檚 goals include expanding the scientific expertise at Johnson Space Center and strengthening networks for disaster resilience.

鈥淲ith the path I started at 51视频, I gained a classic research scientist background,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut early on, I realized that my real focus was in applied science. And so, any opportunity I have to use my knowledge and skills to produce things that are immediately useful, that's always been satisfying for me.鈥澛�

His advice for current Kennedy College of Sciences students? Embrace the winding path.

鈥淭ake as many electives in different areas as you can and explore your interests, even if it doesn't seem directly related to the core curriculum, because you never know when something that you learned is suddenly going to become useful and important in your career,鈥� he says. 鈥淪ome people can have very direct career paths and be very successful. My career path is much more twisty, but it's been very rewarding to me because of that.鈥�