Carlos Portillo-Quintero, an associate professor within Texas Tech University's Department of Natural Resources Management, has been selected a 2022 Kavli Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. An expert in geospatial analysis and imagery interpretation, he is the first Texas Tech faculty member to receive this honor.

Program officials note that the 39 Kavli Fellows named this year were invited to present their research while participating in the 32nd Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium this month at the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Center in Irvine California. Since 1989, the Academy's Frontiers of Science symposia has brought together outstanding young scientists to discuss exciting advances and opportunities.

“The symposium was truly a unique experience,” Portillo-Quintero said. “One moment I was learning about the details of vaccine development research, and in the next I was discussing techniques with astronomers and cell biologists on image analysis or exchanging experiences in the field with anthropologists. It was invigorating.”

As a new Kavli Fellow, Portillo-Quintero was also invited to present his research on the use of satellite imagery and geospatial technologies to understand patterns of change in tropical forests and communicate these effectively to local communities. 

His research includes state-of-the-art applications that aim to understand the hidden dynamics of socioeconomic change that drive tropical biodiversity loss. His work includes collaborations with the Yucatan Center for Scientific Research in Mexico and the University of Malaga in Spain. 

Portillo-Quintero's Geospatial Technologies Lab has received support by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, U.S. Agency for International Development, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service through Pheasants Forever, BASF, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research through the Tropi-Dry Network, the Elo and Olga Urbanovsky Fellowship and the Texas Tech Office of International Affairs.

Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, said Kavli Fellows are selected by a committee of academy members from among young researchers who have already made recognized contributions to science, including recipients of major national fellowships and awards and who have been identified as future leaders in science. The Kavli Foundation, based in Oxnard, California, supports scientific research, honors scientific achievement, and promotes public understanding of scientists and their work.

CONTACT: Warren Conway, Chair, Department of Natural Resources Management, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-6579 or warren.conway@ttu.edu

0413NM22