Dr. Emil Cherrington grew up in Belize at a time when access to scientific education was limited. From a young age, he was fascinated by science and was an avid reader of scientific books, science fiction novels, and comics. However, due to the scarcity of scientists in his country, he lacked real-life scientific role models to look up to. Instead, he found inspiration in fictional characters like "The Mighty Thor" and "Peter Parker" (Spider-Man), who sparked his interest in science and ultimately led him to achieve the highest academic degrees in the United States and Europe, far from his homeland.
During his graduate studies, he was first introduced to NASA's Landsat data, which he saw as a puzzle waiting to be decoded. This marked the beginning of his true passion for Earth sciences and geospatial technologies, fields in which he has worked for over two decades. Today, Dr. Cherrington serves as the Science Lead for the Regional Science Program in West Africa under NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) SERVIR program.
Even after twenty years of working with Landsat data, Cherrington still feels excited every day when engaging with this information. What excites him is not only the progress in science but also the ability to build strong connections with users around the world who utilize this data to make better decisions about natural resource allocation.
In particular, Dr. Cherrington finds great inspiration in hearing how the information provided by SERVIR has made a tangible difference in the lives of others. Whether through helping to develop open scientific solutions or interpreting climate model results, seeing the real-world impact of the information provided by the program motivates him to continue in this field.
Cherrington grew up in an environment that lacked opportunities for scientific learning. He admits that the scarcity of scientists in his country made him doubt whether pursuing science in Belize was possible. However, through the constant encouragement of his family, especially his aunt Caroline, who was the first to study abroad and earned degrees in chemistry and biology, he began to see that studying overseas might be the path to achieving his dreams. It was his aunt who gave him his first computer, along with a collection of scientific books that inspired him to continue his pursuit of science.
Dr. Cherrington studied biology at Loyola University in Maryland, USA, and then earned a master's degree in forest resources from the University of Washington in Seattle. At this university, his research on the "debt-for-nature swap" between the United States and Belize in 2001 marked the beginning of his relationship with using satellites to monitor Earth and gather information that could benefit local communities. In one of his projects, he provided satellite images tracking flood intensity in Panama to the local government, which used this information to alert the public and take measures to protect lives and property.
He then moved on to work with environmental agencies in Belize, followed by Panama, where he worked at the "Tropical Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean." In these roles, he witnessed how satellite-derived information could improve environmental decision-making at the government level. After nine years of working outside academia, he decided to pursue his doctoral studies in ecology and forest resources in France and Germany, which were fully funded through scholarships.
Today, Dr. Cherrington works as a researcher at the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, in addition to serving as the Regional Science Coordination Lead for the SERVIR program in West Africa. Since his work in Panama, where the world's first SERVIR center was established, Cherrington has been at the forefront of global geospatial information initiatives. He works with SERVIR to facilitate access to satellite data that helps communities worldwide make informed decisions about managing their natural resources, collaborating with government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Cherrington recounts how his high school peers believed he would never secure a scholarship to study abroad due to his family's modest financial situation. However, he persisted in pursuing his dream, proving that big dreams can come true even under challenging circumstances. He hopes this will encourage future generations of scientists to follow their passions, even in the face of difficulties or criticism they may encounter.
Through his extensive experience, Dr. Cherrington remains an example of how to overcome challenges and transcend cultural and economic limitations to achieve success in the field of science. He continues his work with NASA and SERVIR in delivering knowledge to local and global communities and encourages others to pursue their scientific dreams, no matter the obstacles.
