“A person without children would face a hopeless future, a country without trees is almost as helpless.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
Acknowledgment of certain situations has made us realize that civilization depends upon how we understand and manage our planet and its resources. The nature of weather sequences can leave a significant impact on the availability of water resources and the potential for forest fires. Other than that, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and floods can generate major losses both by creating massive fatalities and monetary damages.
Just as Earth systems have a direct impact on each of us, we – as individuals - also have a direct relation in creating a strong influence on the Earth. Intensifying technologies and growing populations increase demand for natural resources. As we abstract and use these resources, we create an impact on Earth today, which will, in turn, affect those who come after us. To augment our stewardship of the environment, we must proceed into the future with a sound understanding of Earth systems. 
People like Prof. Hesham El-Askary, who understand how Earth systems work, can make informed conclusions about where to buy or build a home out of harm's way. They can dispute and resolve issues adjacent to clean water, urban planning and advancement, national security, global climate change, and the use and supervision of natural resources. A well-versed society, conscious of our compound relationships with our planet, recognizes the position of and insists on Earth science education on all scales— elementary and secondary. When we underline Earth science education, everyone benefits.
Prof. Hesham El-Askary, a notable figure in the field of Earth sciences, has had an extraordinary journey that has traversed continents and wedged the world of academia and environmental research. Born in Egypt, El-Askary's educational journey began at Alexandria University, where he hunted a triple major in Geophysics, Geology, and Physics, proceeding with distinction in 1997. His search for knowledge didn't end there; he sustained his post-graduate studies in Geophysics at the same university, setting the stage for his illustrious occupation.
In the year 2004, El-Askary attained an inspiring academic milestone by grossing his Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics from George Mason University in the United States. This manifested the commencement of a fruitful journey in academia and research.
El-Askary's career began as a computer instructor at Alexandria University in 1996, swiftly progressing to the position of teaching assistant in the Faculty of Science's Physics and Geophysics Department in 1997. This, in turn, facilitated him to secure a position at George Mason University, serving as both a teaching assistant and research assistant in the School of Computational Sciences and the Center for Earth Observing and Space Research.
Returning to Alexandria University in 2005, he presumed the role of assistant professor, ultimately receiving a promotion to take up the role of associate professor in 2009, a position he still holds. Simultaneously, he became a freelance consultant at the National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS) in Cairo, Egypt.
El-Askary's international career continued to embellish when he joined Chapman University as an assistant professor in Earth System Science and Remote Sensing in 2008, in due course rising to the rank of professor in 2016. Conspicuously, in 2020, he played a fundamental part in the GEO-CRADLE scheme, synchronizing Earth Observation Activities across North Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans.
His investigations have been influential in studying natural hazards, air pollution, climate change effects, and coral reefs, using remote sensing technologies and data sciences. He's authored two books and subsidized to several publications, reinforced by respected establishments like the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the European Union.
In 2019, El-Askary's proficiency led him to contribute to the IPCC account on Desertification, and he's been dynamically involved in UN conferences and initiatives, lecturing on ecological challenges.
At the moment, he obliges as the vice president of the Egyptian Space Agency and endures to be a leading voice in Earth Sciences, sponsoring a sustainable and buoyant future. Prof. Hesham El-Askary's journey demonstrates a persistent pursuit of knowledge and a promise to make an optimistic impact on our planet.
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