This award honors professionals in the early stages of their careers who demonstrate innovative use of satellite-derived information, particularly from European missions, to address critical environmental challenges. Caballero's work focuses on developing satellite tools designed for monitoring coastal ecosystems, areas that are dynamic and particularly vulnerable to climate change and human activity.
Her research, which has been key to this distinction, has driven significant advancements in fields such as shallow seafloor mapping, water quality analysis, detection of harmful algal blooms, and assessment of the impact of extreme events. By utilizing the Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites from the Copernicus program, her scientific work provides essential support for formulating sustainable management and protection strategies in regions of high economic and environmental value.
“"I receive this recognition with great affection because it means that the work I have developed has the capacity to offer new perspectives on systems as complex and changing as coastal areas."
The EO Excellence Award not only celebrates scientific excellence and creativity but also includes a grant aimed at strengthening and consolidating the laureate's research lines. The jury highlighted both Dr. Caballero's solid career trajectory and her ability to create innovative applications, as well as her commitment to scientific dissemination to raise public awareness about the importance of marine research.
In a previous interview, Caballero shared that her motivation to pursue science stemmed from "the desire to find answers to things." She also revealed a personal connection to science, recalling that as a child, after falling seriously ill with rubella, "they thought I wouldn't survive, and science saved me."
For the researcher, this award reinforces her commitment to applied science and represents an impetus to "continue exploring coasts from space and to build collaborative networks that transcend borders." With this award, the ESA celebrates the passion of the young European scientific community that contributes to defining the future of environmental action through demand-driven technological solutions with a tangible impact on society, promoting a science that "seeks to contribute to addressing the environmental challenges of our present and to care for our coasts and seas through knowledge."
