Astrophysics meets conservation biology

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The long-term goal of this project is to build upon STFC-funded innovations in astronomy to help tackle challenges to developing countries identified in the Global Challenge Theme Areas: "Sustainable Resources" and "Sustainable Growth". Over the last 18 months, we have demonstrated that software developed by astronomers to detect emission and identify objects in thermal (mid-infrared, ~10 micron) wavelength astronomical images is extremely well suited to identifying and characterising animals in aerial thermal video footage. We now seek pump priming funds to support a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to adapt the automated source-finding and identification software pipeline we have developed for different environments. The PDRA will then take this drone + software pipeline system to developing countries and test it in "real world" situations. By demonstrating that this is a cost-effective and efficient way to monitor and manage animal populations over large areas, we aim to show the validity of this approach for tackling some of the major challenges facing developing countries, such as food security, animal health and ecosystem monitoring, protection and conservation. We envisage this pilot project paving the way for future Official Development Assistance-eligible applications (e.g. the Global Challenge Research Fund) to begin systematically tackling the above challenges.