Shimrit Maman

Senior Research Associate and Director for the Earth and Planetary Image Facility, Head of Israel's UN-SPIDER RSO

Region:          Middle East 

Field:              Science; Engineering/ Technology

Profile:     Dr. Maman is a senior research associate in the Homeland Security Institute and director of the Earth and Planetary Image Facility (EPIF), both at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her research deals with the application of satellite technologies (remote sensing and GIS) to environmental challenges and climate change. She is an integral part of the research team leading BGUSAT, Israel's first research nanosatellite. She also serves as a UN-SPIDER expert, and heads the Israeli Regional Support Office of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

Maman leads diverse education and outreach programs promoting Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), using hands-on research activities, at both the national and international scales, including the unique, all-girl, international remote sensing science program: She Space. Previously she served as the board director of D-mars, and is a founding board member of WiSpace, a women’s association promoting gender equity among Israeli STEAM professionals.

Quote by Dr. Maman:

"Although it is a vast, icy void, I think space holds unique opportunities for dreamers unafraid to boldly face meaningful challenges".

Network and Mentorship Activities:

Intentions for 2021 are to further develop and expand my ongoing commitments to global geographic diversity in space sciences by simultaneously addressing both gender and generational equality gaps in three well-designed initiatives.

The first, in its international iteration, She Space, inspires young girls to study STEAM subjects and encourages young women to pursue science & technology throughout their educational careers (SDG's 4, 5, 13 & 17), in collaboration with Beit-Yatziv and ISA.

The second, AIR, targets professional women from the Ramon Foundation at their early career stages and provides a unique, annual networking and mentoring program facilitating scientific training and access to academic space education and state of the art technologies focusing on achieving SDG13.

The third, act as a space ambassador for the Space4Women program in various platforms (including virtual). Raise awareness and promote policies, within all stratums from the general public to government, as well as private agencies and institutions.