Meet a TReNDS Expert: Steven Ramage
Written by TReNDS Staff
In the Meet TReNDS series, we introduce you to TReNDS' experts, staff, and friends–leading individuals and organizations in the broader data for development community.
Meet...
TReNDS expert Steven Ramage, Head of External Relations, Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
About Steven
Since 2016 Steven Ramage has been leading global stakeholder engagement and external relations for the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), an intergovernmental partnership promoting the value and usefulness of Earth observations (EO) for research, policy, decisions and action. Steven worked in the private sector for 20 years before he started consulting to the World Bank and the United Nations in 2012. He was an owner/director of 1Spatial before taking on a role as Executive Director of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and then more recently, Managing Director of Ordnance Survey International. Steven is a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Future Cities, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and SASNet Fellow at the Urban Big Data Centre at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He's also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Geneva, Institute of Environmental Sustainability (IES) in Switzerland, a Member of the OGC Global Advisory Council and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).
Q&A
TReNDS Staff: In your career, what area of data for development have you primarily focused on?
Steven Ramage: I have been involved with geospatial data for many years, more recently focusing on Earth observations data that supports numerous development agendas. I'm working to help educate policy makers on the value of science and technology.
What emerging area of data for development are you most eager to tackle in your own work?
The integration of Earth observations with other types of data, such as socioeconomic data. Particularly working to address the translation between science, technology and policy.
What emerging area of data for development are you most eager to see addressed by the community at large?
The usefulness of frontier technologies, such as machine learning and big data analysis, particularly Earth observations to support monitoring, reporting and implementation of policy frameworks (Sendai Framework, New Urban Agenda, Paris Agreement and SDGs).
What is the most interesting use of data you’ve seen?
There are three activities in the GEO work programme on agriculture (GEOGLAM) and water (GEOGLOWS and Digital Earth Africa), which are using open data for crop monitoring and early warning systems. More here: https://www.earthobservations.org/geoss_wp.php
What are you most eager to engage in with TReNDS?
Promoting awareness and understanding of the value and usefulness of geospatial data (platforms, tools and services), notably Earth observations, in support of TReNDS work
Check out some of Steven’s past work below:
Opinion: How to improve collaboration in Earth observation for impact (Devex)
Missed out on attending FOSS4G 2018? Here’s an overview of what happened (GEO Awesomeness)
On Earth observations for evidence-based policymaking, and other reflections from the WEF Annual Meeting 2019 (SDSN TReNDS)