News - Mpumalanga Science and Technology Academy
Planetwalk Africa Continues
Dr. John Francis, Planetwalker, is back in Africa for Planetwalk Africa. Over a period of 6 years, Dr. Francis plans to walk on foot from South Africa to Cairo, Egypt.
The current leg of his journey will last 3 months (August–November). Starting in Beaufort West in South Africa, he will walk to Gabron, Botswana, averaging 12.5 miles (20 km) for 50 days to get there.
Teaming up with GLOBE Africa’s Mark Brettenny, Dr. Francis is taking GLOBE clouds and trees measurements by phone and visiting schools along the way. Dr. Francis is actively participating in GLOBE Africa’s Tree Measurement IOP, a citizen science effort to collect tree measurements to provide ground validation to improve NASA’s Earth Systems Monitoring GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) L4a biomass product. Stay tuned as we share updates from his journey.
Dr. Francis is a longtime member of the GLOBE community and gave the keynote address at the 2024 GLOBE Annual Meeting.
News origin: GLOBE Implementation Office