Advisory Board
The Embed2Scale project’s Advisory Board (AB) is a group of experts representing key professional user groups and stakeholders across Earth Observation, AI, high-performance computing, and geospatial data science. The AB’s role is to collaborate with the consortium and exchange ideas on the challenges, priorities, research, and technical decisions throughout the workplan by reviewing and contributing to specific reports and deliverables and participating in selected meetings. Through this collaboration, the AB helps serves as an expert eye and external sounding board to assist in meeting the ambitious vision of the project, ensure the quality of output and maximise impact.
Tom “Hutch” Ingold
Hutch Ingold is the technology lead at EarthGenome where he leads development of systems using AI and remote sensing data to make the world a better place. Previously with Planet Labs, BoundlessGeo and others, Hutch has a history of developing open standards and software for the geospatial domain.
Ben Strong
Ben Strong, PhD, is the Science and Machine Learning Lead at Earth Genome. In this role, he helps lead Earth Genome’s efforts to build AI-powered technology for protecting the planet. He was a 2024 nominee for the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award and is an inaugural recipient of the Boundless Fellowship for Breakthrough Leadership for Nature.
Lukas Liesenhoff
Lukas leads the Data Science Team at OroraTech working on wildfire detection and surface temperature measurement from space. He holds a PhD in machine learning for earth observation from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) where he researched deep learning for change detection and agricultural mapping. An economist by training, Lukas aims to keep a close connection to policy applications of AI for EO with previous stunts at the World Bank, the World Food Programme and Planet Labs.
Christian Mollière
Christian is a Senior Data Scientist specializing in the physical and data-driven modeling of thermal remote sensing data products. His expertise includes radiometric sensor calibration, atmospheric modeling, data compression, uncertainty quantification, and super-resolution. With a strong background in software engineering, he develops scalable tools and algorithms to process and analyze remote sensing data. As part of his role, he fosters collaborations with industry and academia to translate research into practical applications.
Henri Riihimäki
Henri Riihimäki’s professional experience centers on Earth Observation and spatial modelling, with a focus on translating these disciplines into practical applications. His academic background includes a PhD in physical geography, where he investigated scale effects and remote sensing methods for Arctic ecosystem modeling. At ICEYE he currently leads the Geospatial Product Engineering team, which creates analytics for their natural catastrophe products. The team consists of ML engineers, data scientists, remote sensing engineers and natural catastrophe domain specialists.
Dr Umberto Modigliani
Dr Umberto Modigliani is the Deputy Director of Forecasts , collaborating closely with the Department Director, contributing to the management of the Forecast Department (~200 staff). The department is responsible for the 24/7 timely production of ECMWF’s computer-based forecasts, forecast quality, software development, liaison with forecast users, user support, data sales and software licensing. The department also manages the acquisition, processing and quality control of observations, globally, of the atmosphere and oceans. The job includes many international engagements. His work also includes comprehensive reporting on plans and progress to the formal committees and Council which constitute the ECMWF governance.
Edward Boyda
Edward Boyda is a physicist, environmental data journalist, and data scientist. He works with the California non-profit Earth Genome, where he runs satellite- and AI-driven investigations for environmental and human rights reporting. He helped build Amazon Mining Watch. Previously, he was a professor of physics at Saint Mary’s College of California, with interests in particle physics and quantum computing.