Kenyan geoscientists, Linus Anari and Eileen Mburu win NASA’s Blue Dot challenge

Two Kenyan geoscientists, Linus Anari and Eileen Mburu have won the prestigious Blue Dot competition organised by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The duo developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify food security hot spots in Northern Kenya.

Linus Anari is a Geospatial Engineering student at the University of Nairobi and Eileen Mburu is a Geospatial Specialist with a strong background in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a graduate of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The two participated in the Blue Dot Challenge which seeks to mitigate common world challenges like climate change, water insecurity, and food insecurity. 

In the challenge, the participants created visualisations using Earth Observation data that advanced the sustainable development goals of zero hunger, clean water, and climate action.

According to Linus and Eileen, they were motivated by the prolonged floods in Northern Kenya attributed to El Niño rains during the October-November-December season. Preceding these floods, the region had endured prolonged drought.

After connecting with residents of Northern Kenya through a colleague in the Red Cross, the duo realised that the region was trapped in a vicious cycle of extreme weather events. “The Northern Kenya regions are inevitably bound to return to drought conditions, creating a repetitive cycle that exacerbates food insecurity and water scarcity,” Eileen explained.

To combat these challenges, Linus and Eileen developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) that provides crucial insights into food security hot spots. Their innovation is designed to facilitate targeted interventions by enabling authorities and humanitarian organisations to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on food security.

“Our GIS tool is not just about mapping; it’s about saving lives by ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most,” Linus said.

About the NASA’s Blue Dot Challenge

According to the organizers, the Pale Blue Dot: Visualization Challenge was designed to enable a broader, more diverse audience to engage with Earth observation data. For them, combining large-scale Earth observation data with other data types enabled many participants to better understand specific issues.

For example, an honourable mention winner, Data Science Nigeria combined satellite imagery with reports of violent incidents from Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) to better identify areas at high risk of hunger.

1,600 participants registered for the challenge. They came from all around the world, representing over 100 different countries with participants from USA, Mexico, Botswana, Brazil, Senegal, and Argentina.

For the challenge, participants created visualizations using Earth observation data that advance the Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger, clean water, and climate action. Earth observation data provides accurate and free information on our atmosphere, oceans, ecosystems, land cover, and built environment.

Eileen and Linus joined other winners to attend a 10-day space study program with travel, lodging, and tuition covered. They also had a fly at the Rocket Center in the USA.