NASA Lifelines’ first year built a global community linking scientists and humanitarians, driving Earth science innovation for crisis response.
One Year of NASA Lifelines: Achievements and Community Impact
As NASA Lifelines enters its second year, DevGlobal reflects on the program’s first-year achievements. Launched in partnership with NASA in October 2023, Lifelines connects geospatial scientists and humanitarians to close critical data gaps. By integrating Earth science into humanitarian efforts, the initiative helps communities respond to crises, adapt to climate change, and build resilience.
From the start, DevGlobal focused on building a diverse and engaged community of scientists, humanitarians, policymakers, and technologists. Lifelines created flexible programs to meet the needs of practitioners and scientists eager to collaborate.
The Ready for Impact program debuted at SatSummit 2024, giving Earth science innovators a platform to pitch ideas, gain expert feedback, and secure resources to scale solutions.
The Earth Science Review Board guided humanitarian organizations in applying satellite data to real-world needs. Early cases included analyzing agricultural productivity in Sudan and using Earth observation for human rights monitoring.
Supper Clubs brought voices together in eight global cities, sparking fresh ideas on how satellite data can support disaster preparedness and human rights work.
The Mural Program used public art to make Earth science accessible, with murals in Washington D.C., Nashville, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Detroit.
The first Humanitarian Simulation brought over 300 participants together, virtually and in-person, to tackle a crisis scenario in the Democratic Republic of Congo using satellite data to address displacement, health, and food security challenges.
Looking ahead, NASA Lifelines will expand the Ready for Impact incubator, launch new fellowships, and foster collaborations that link science and humanitarian action to solve global challenges.
The Speed Dating format paired Earth scientists with humanitarian professionals, encouraging interdisciplinary partnerships and innovative problem-solving. Participants credited the fast-paced format for building collaborations that might not have happened otherwise.