A Nigerian-born scientist is taking center stage in global conservation efforts, thanks to a prestigious NASA research grant.
Festus Adegbola, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan (UI) and PhD researcher at the University at Buffalo, New York, is currently leading a high-impact biodiversity study in South Africa’s Greater Cape Floristic Region. He was recently awarded the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship.
According to a statement released by the University at Buffalo, Adegbola’s research is part of NASA’s BioSCape mission and focuses on mapping biodiversity using advanced remote sensing technologies — including imaging spectroscopy, lidar, and bioacoustic monitoring — to understand habitat diversity and predict bird species richness.
“This research will enhance our ability to monitor species distributions at a scale that hasn’t been done before,” Adegbola noted, emphasizing that the work will directly impact environmental policies.
Adegbola’s journey began in Nigeria, where he graduated with distinction from UI and led youth-centered environmental education initiatives through the Nigerian Society for Environmental Conservation. His early work laid the foundation for his international achievements, including multiple awards such as the Charles H.V. Ebert and Abrahams-Woldenberg Awards.
His research has been presented at major scientific forums like the American Geophysical Union and the American Association of Geographers. He also received commendation for studying the impact of wildfire smoke on bird detection — a pressing issue amid rising global wildfires.
His advisor and BioSCape principal investigator, Adam Wilson, praised Adegbola’s groundbreaking work: “NASA’s investment in Festus’ work is a testament to the scientific importance and real-world impact of his research.”
As climate change intensifies and biodiversity faces growing threats, Adegbola’s research offers critical insights for conservationists and policy-makers alike.
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