Dr Ekaterina Sklyar (Shipigina)

Ekaterina's research focuses on modelling and mapping phenology changes in ecosystems of the European North based on processing MODIS products. Upon processing MODIS data are transferred into time-lapse maps of changes in vegetation phenology caused by changing meteorological conditions over the 20 years period.

Biography

Career

• Institute Associate. Scott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK. 2020-present

"​Spatial analysis of the effects of climate factors on northern phenology using MODIS products" The mapping changes in northern vegetation phenology caused by inter- and intra-seasonal shifts in air temperatures, snow depths and photoperiod lengths using daily MODIS products over 2000-2019

" Changes in boreal and tundra vegetation on Kola Peninsula based on large-scale Landsat land cover classification in 1985-2021" Automated land cover classification and analysis of land cover changes over 35 years has been completed.

"Field data collection protocol for remote sensing"

• Environmental Researcher,​ 2019-2020
  "​Multispectral remote sensing of the impact of climate change on northern forests of Russia", funded by the British Council. The analysis of "Applicability and accuracy of MODIS LST as a proxy for ground temperature in northern Europe'', developing and advancing the approach to validate the accuracy of approximating temperature via MODIS land-surface temperature in sub-Artcic ecosystems, timelapse mapping of changes in vegetation phenology driven by seasonal air temperature variations.
• Entrepreneur in Environmental Assessment. Silvertern Ltd, London, UK. 2013-2019
  Providing expertise in environment, GIS, remote sensing and cartography. Developing & marketing GeoPassport: hedonic evaluation of property location assessing its attractiveness as a human habitat.
• Junior Research Engineer. Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2005-2007

Qualifications

• PhD in Polar Studies, Scott Polar Research Institute. Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK. 2008-2013
  "Environmental monitoring of northern ecosystem changes under human impact in the European Arctic using remote sensing methods"
• MPhil (Hons.) in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing. Department of Geography, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK. 2007-2008
  "Spatial variation in land cover change using multi-temporal satellite images of the Kola Peninsula, Russia"
• MSc (distinction) in Geography. Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2003-2005
  "Remote sensing for mapping the state of ecosystems of the lake Imandra watershed"
• BA in Ecology. Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 1999-2003
  "Studies of industrial impact on vegetation by Landsat images in the Monchegorsk region"
• Teaching Diploma, Hons. Faculty of Pedagogical Education, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. 2001-2005

Awards and scholarships

• IASC travel Award, ASSW. 2022
• Philip Lake Fund for fieldwork, Department of Geography, Cambridge, UK. 2011
• Rouse Ball Research Fund for fieldwork, Trinity College, Cambridge, UK. 2009&2011
• B.B. Roberts Fund for fieldwork, Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, UK. 2009&2011
• Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society Student Award for 2008, UK. 2009
• Eastern European Research Bursary for PhD course, Trinity College, Cambridge, UK. 2008
• ORS Award for PhD course at Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. 2008
• Eastern European Bursary, Trinity College, Cambridge, UK. 2007
• Bursary of the President of Russia for scientific researchers, Moscow, Russia, 2007
• Scholarship of the Government of Russian Federation for the scientific researches, Moscow, Russia. 2006
• 1^st Prize in Geography and Cartography, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2006
• Honours of the Vernadskiy Fund, Moscow, Russia. 2005
• Diploma for the best project in the competition "Satellite images for geographical research", ScanEx, NGO "Transparent World" and Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2004
• Scholarship of Moscow Government and International Soros Science Education Program, Moscow, Russia. 2003, 2004
• Medal for best science project in the competition in natural and technical sciences and humanities, Ministry for Education of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia. 2003
• Scholarship of the Muratova Fund, Faculty of Geography, Department of Environmental Management, Moscow State University, Russia. 2001-2002

Research

Research interests

#Phenology changes by modelling and remote sensing #Programming for image processing #Climate impact on environment #Environmental assessment using remote sensing, GIS, biological and chemical methods #GIS- and numerical modelling of industrial pollutions #Remote sensing techniques development #Human impact on ecosystems #Environment of arctic and sub-arctic regions #Environmental change detection #Climate changes in human aspect #Forest environment #Sustainable development of polar regions #Environmental management #Polar education

Projects

• CHILE-network. 2021-currently
• Multispectral remote sensing of the impact of climate change on the northern forests of Russia. 2019-2020
• PPS Arctic&Project BENEFITS. 2007-2011
• Russian Field School "Remote Sensing for Ecosystems Assessment", Kola Peninsula. 2007
• Project "The Kola Peninsula: Applications of Interactive Integrated Assessment and Modelling to Design Sustainable Development Strategies for Arctic Watersheds", American Association for the Advancement of Science; Program of Fundamental Research "Changes in Natural Complexes of Russia in the Industrial Impact Zones", Section "Prognosis for Change of Natural Complexes In the Impact Areas of Metallurgical Plants", Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia. 2003-2005

Publications

• Sklyar, E. and G. Rees (2022) Assessing changes in boreal vegetation of Kola peninsula via large-scale land cover classification between 1985 and 2021. Remote Sensing. 14(21), doi:10.3390/rs14215616. Supplementary material: doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/CD8HN
• Rees, W.G., Tutubalina, O., Medvedev, A., Marshall, G.J., Golubeva, E.I., Telnova, N., Zimin, M., Mikhaylykova, P., Terskaia, A., Sklyar, E. and Tomaney, J.A. (2022). Three decades of Remote Sensing subarctic vegetation in northern Russia: A case study in Science Diplomacy. Polar Record. 58, E37. doi:10.1017/S0032247422000304
• Rees W.G. and Sklyar, E. (2022) Remote sensing: vegetation phenology and response to environmental change. Scott Polar Research Institute Review 2021, 9.
• Shipigina, E. and Rees W.G. (2012) Analysis of human impact on boreal vegetation around Monchegorsk, Kola peninsula, using automated remote sensing technique. Polar Record, 48(244):94-106. doi:10.1017/s0032247411000556
• Shipigina, E. (2008) Assessment of landuse conflict using multi-temporal satellite images. 'Otsenka konflikta zemlepol'zovaniya po raznovremennym kosmicheskim snimkam'. in Russian. Problemy Regional'noy Ecologii [Problems of regional Environment], 4.
• Golubeva, E., Shipigina, E. and Tutubalina, O. (2007) 'Metody diagnostiki antropogenno narushennyh ecosystem Severa' [Methods for study of human damaged ecosystems of the North]. Vestnik Voroneghskogo Universiteta, Ser. Biogeographiya, Voronegh.
• Shipigina, E. (2002) 'Izuchenie promyshlennogo vliyaniya kombinata Severonikel na prirodnie ecosistemy s pomoshu distantsionnih metodov' [Study of industrial impact of Severonikel smelter on natural ecosystems using remote sensing methods]. Proceedings of International conference of undergraduate and graduate students "Lomonosov". Section Geography. Moscow: Faculty of Geography.
• Tutubalina, O. and Shipigina, E. (2004) Metodika komputernoy klassifikatsii po neskolkim kosmicheskim snimkam [Method of computer classification using several satellite images]. ArcReview, 4(31).
• Golubeva, E., Govorova, A., Shipigina, E. and Khorokhorina, E. (2003) 'The impact of non-ferrous metallurgy on forest ecosystems of the Kola peninsula'. Abstracts of 7^th International conference "Biogeochemistry of trace elements". Uppsala.
• Golubeva, E., Rees, W.G., Govorova, A., Tutubalina, O., Shipigina, E. and Horohorina, E. (2003) 'Komplecsnie metody issedovaniya sostoyaniya tehnogenno narushennyh severnih ecosystem' [Complex methods of research of industrial damaged northern ecosystems]. Proceedings of International conference "Monitoring and assessment of states of vegetation". Minsk: Pravo i economika.

Teaching

• Demonstrator for IB, Project 3: Remote Sensing, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK. 2010.
• Supervisor for IA and IB, Oral Examination in Russian, Modern and Medieval Languages, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK. 2009, 2010.
• Demonstrator for IB, Project 3: Physical Geography - Remote Sensing, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK. 2009.
• Demonstrator for IA, Geographical Skills and Methods, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK. 2009.
• Junior teacher in the Russian Field School "Remote Sensing for Ecosystems Assessment", Kola peninsula, Russia. 2007.
• Junior lecturer, course Information Systems and Technologies in Geography: Digital Image Processing, GIS-technologies and ArcView software for undergraduate students, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2005-2006.
• Field and undergraduate dissertation supervisor, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. 2004-2007.
• Trainee teacher, Geoinformation Technologies in Geography, State Secondary School № 1500, Moscow, Russia. 2003.

External activities

• Council Member, Polar Educator International. 2022-2023
• Member, Royal Geographical Society, UK. 2020-present
• President, Trinity College Russian Society, UK. 2009-2010
• President, Cambridge University Russian Society, UK. 2008-2009
• Organiser and junior treasurer, Trinity College Russian Society, UK. 2008-2009
• Entertainment Officer, Cambridge University Russian Society, UK. 2007-2008
• Member, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, UK. 2007-present
• Member, Cambridge Dancers' Club, UK. 2007-present