Reflections on my experience as an Early Career Ocean Professional

By Munawaroh 

Introduction

I am Munawaroh, a researcher specializing in remote sensing applications for coastal and marine environments. My passion for blue carbon ecosystems began during my early research into mangrove monitoring using satellite data. This interest led me to focus my work on developing practical tools that can support conservation efforts across Indonesia’s vast coastal regions. When I learned about the Early Career Ocean Professional program through colleagues at my institution, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to advance my research while connecting with the global ocean science community.

Photo 1. ECOPs with the IORA Blue Carbon Hub Director and the Operations Manager (Left to right: Ahmed Shan, Mat, Munawaroh, Debarati, Gavindya  and Lauren) 

The ECOP program offered exactly what I was seeking a chance to develop my own research interests under expert mentorship, access to international-quality facilities, and the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines. For someone working at the intersection of remote sensing and marine science, this represented an invaluable pathway to expand both technical capabilities and professional networks.

Research overview

Through the ECOP program, I developed a comprehensive Near-Real-Time Mangrove Blue Carbon Monitoring Dashboard using Google Earth Engine (https://ee-ewsdeforestasimangrove.projects.earthengine.app/view/imbcm) – click to take a look. This project addressed a critical need for accessible, science-based tools that can support mangrove conservation across Indonesia’s diverse coastal regions.

Mangrove ecosystems represent some of the most carbon-rich forests globally, yet they face unprecedented threats from development, aquaculture expansion, and climate change. These ecosystems are complex, exhibiting high biodiversity and varying environmental conditions across different regions. The characteristics that make mangroves ecologically valuable—their position at the land-sea interface, their structural complexity, and their dynamic nature—also make monitoring them particularly challenging using traditional approaches.

My research focused on five key Indonesian regions: Semarang, Cilacap, Pekalongan, Teluk Benoa, and Indramayu. Each represents different pressures and conservation contexts, from urban-adjacent mangroves facing development pressure to extensive systems threatened by aquaculture conversion. The dashboard integrates multi-sensor satellite data from Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2 optical imagery, and Landsat-8, processing information from 2018 to present.

Figure 1. The five mangrove regions in Java and Bali Island (Semarang, Cilacap, Pekalongan, Teluk Benoa, and Indramayu).

The methodology combines several innovative approaches. A Bayesian alert system detects deforestation threats with 75-85% accuracy, classifying areas into four alert levels based on multi-sensor evidence. The carbon assessment pipeline estimates total ecosystem carbon by combining above-ground biomass derived from TanDEM-X elevation data, below-ground carbon calculations, and soil organic carbon mapping using Random Forest modeling. Recognizing the importance of transparent uncertainty communication, I developed an integrated framework that classifies results as low, medium, or high confidence, helping users understand when field validation is essential.

Figure 2 The operational workflow of the carbon monitoring and alert system. The system progresses from multi-sensor data fusion for change detection to the final delivery of actionable insights for stakeholders via maps and a user application.

The results demonstrated that remote sensing approaches can effectively monitor mangrove changes at landscape scales. However, the research also revealed important limitations: the 1-3 month lag between disturbance and satellite detection due to clouds cover conditions, challenges with mixed pixels at ecosystem boundaries, and the need for local calibration of carbon estimation models.

Figure 3. The operational workflow of the carbon monitoring and alert system. The system progresses from multi-sensor data fusion for change detection to the final delivery of actionable insights for stakeholders via maps and a user application

Figure 4. Showing the different layers on the dashboard (carbon stock, soil carbon, carbon at risk and alert status). 

Figure 5. A near-real-time Mangrove Blue Carbon Monitor on Google Earth Engine Dashboard and it results

Program Overview

The Early Career Ocean Professional program provided an exceptional framework for advancing both technical capabilities and professional development within the ocean science community. The program’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration aligned perfectly with my research approach, which integrates remote sensing, marine science, and conservation applications.

Working alongside early career professionals from diverse ocean science backgrounds enriched my perspective on coastal ecosystem management. The program fostered meaningful connections between remote sensing specialists, marine biologists, policy researchers, and conservation practitioners. These interactions improved my ability to communicate complex methodologies to non-technical stakeholders and helped me understand how my work fits into broader ocean conservation strategies.

Access to mentorship from senior ocean professionals provided crucial guidance on translating technical research into policy-relevant outcomes. The structured approach to capacity building enhanced my skills in science communication, project management, and collaborative research. Regular program activities facilitated knowledge exchange across disciplines, creating opportunities for future collaboration that extend well beyond the program duration.

I am grateful to the program coordinators and mentors for their time and support throughout this experience. Their constructive feedback and discussions helped refine my research approach and broaden my understanding of blue carbon science applications.

Benefits

Participation in the ECOP program has fundamentally enhanced my career trajectory in several ways.

The program supported development of cutting-edge methodologies that position me at the forefront of blue carbon remote sensing research. The integrated approach combining Bayesian statistics, machine learning, and cloud computing represents a significant advancement in mangrove monitoring capabilities that I can continue building upon.

Connections forged through ECOP provide ongoing collaboration opportunities with researchers, conservation organizations, and policy institutions across the Indo-Pacific region. These relationships are already generating new research partnerships and funding opportunities that would have been difficult to access independently.

ECOP participation has elevated my profile within the ocean science community, leading to invitations for conference presentations, peer review opportunities, and advisory roles with conservation organizations. This visibility accelerates career advancement in the competitive field of environmental remote sensing.

The program’s emphasis on science-policy integration equipped me with tools to ensure my research generates real-world conservation outcomes. Understanding how to package technical products for policy audiences maximizes the impact of scientific contributions, a skill that will be valuable throughout my career.

The online training “Fundamentals to Use Hyperspectral and Thermal NASA Earth Observations” and my introduction to the GDG Australia community were highly beneficial, offering valuable insights into automation approaches using GEE that enhance research efficiency and reproducibility.

Looking forward

Indonesia has the largest mangrove coverage globally, yet faces significant challenges in monitoring and protecting these ecosystems. The technical capabilities and professional networks developed through ECOP position me to contribute meaningfully to addressing these challenges.

My short-term plans include expanding the monitoring dashboard to cover additional Indonesian regions and publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals. I am also developing proposals to integrate the dashboard into national forest monitoring systems, potentially supporting Indonesia’s climate commitments under international frameworks.

The capacity building and knowledge dissemination aspects of this work are a priority. To engage with the international community, the project was presented at the Geo for Good summit in Singapore from September 8-11, 2024. Following this, a dedicated webinar and sharing session was held on October 2, 2025, to share the project’s findings with colleagues at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Building on these dissemination activities, plans are now underway to establish broader training programs that transfer remote sensing capabilities to Indonesian conservation organizations, universities, and government agencies. This multi-faceted knowledge transfer approach ensures sustainable local capacity for ecosystem monitoring beyond individual research projects.

Photo 2. Presenting the ECOP project to the global community at Geo for good summit in Singapore.

Photo 3. Presenting the project’s findings with colleagues at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Future research will incorporate emerging satellite technologies to enhance species-level mangrove discrimination and improve carbon assessment accuracy. The collaborative networks established through ECOP will be instrumental in developing these next-generation monitoring approaches.

Longer-term, I hope to pursue doctoral studies building on this foundation, with continued collaboration with IORA Blue Carbon Hub and ECOP program alumni. The program has opened pathways for regional leadership in blue carbon research, potentially supporting collaborative monitoring programs across Southeast Asian coastal nations.

The ECOP program plays an important role in enhancing understanding and competence while opening opportunities for participants to explore related topics further. This program helps improve essential skills such as communication and provides opportunities to connect with experts from various fields, opening doors for future collaboration. The opportunity to grow and engage with professionals in the field is crucial for researchers like myself.

Finally, I would like to thank my institution for allowing me to participate in the Early Career Ocean Professional program. The experience has been transformative for both my individual development and my ability to contribute to Indonesia’s marine conservation goals.