Interview: UAB Space Archaeologist and TED Prize Winner Sarah Parcak
To some, the fact that “space archaeology” is actually a thing will come as news. Practitioners use satellite imagery to discover and analyze ancient ruins, and increasingly, to spot looting. University of Alabama at Birmingham archaeologist Sarah Parcak is a leader in the field, and she’s just been named winner of the 2016 million-dollar TED Prize, meant to support her work and a future project of her choosing. That project will involve protecting antiquities around the world and will be revealed in detail in February, but for now, WBHM’s Dan Carsen caught up with Parcak after a whirlwind press conference. She talks terrorists, technology, women and children in science, and colleagues she calls “the real heroes of culture.” But she starts with a boiled-down explanation of her work.
To listen to the on-air four-minute conversation, click above. To read key excerpts, hear the web-exclusive 11-minute interview, or hear today’s UAB press conference, see below.
“Think Google Earth on Speed”
That’s how Parcak sums up her work in one sentence. Elaborating a little: “[We use] satellite imagery, algorithms, and computer software … to pull things out of landscapes that we can’t see with our naked eye … pyramids, tombs, new [to us] settlements and many other features all around the world. But that’s only step one. You then have to go out into the field. It’s called ‘groundtruthing’ — you’re literally checking out if what’s buried in the ground matches what you’re seeing from space.”
Lives at Risk, Colleagues Killed
“The chief archaeologist of Palmyra, Khaled Asaad — he decided to stay on at the site even when ISIL was approaching … and he died protecting the site. So many of my friends and colleagues are risking their lives … I’ve had friends that have almost lost their lives protecting sites from looters, and they’ve undergone gunfire, so this is very very serious. The people who are in the field, doing this every day — I call them the real culture heroes.”
Role Modeling
“I’m a big supporter of kids doing science, especially young girls. And I don’t think there are enough examples of women doing science on TV. It’s hard being a female scientist … we’re always breaking glass ceilings for the next generation. Hopefully it’ll be a little bit easier for them.”
Like in the Movie, but Minus the Bullwhip?
“If people want to call me Indiana Jones, I say that I’m more sites, less stubble.”
Below is the 11-minute web-only interview. Just a few of the additional subjects include Al Qaeda and southern barbecue:
Below is the UAB press conference:
Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic
Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins.
Boeing machinists approve contract, bringing an end to a bruising seven-week strike
Striking machinists voted to approve an agreement that will hike wages by 38%. The deal was endorsed by union leaders, who warned that Boeing’s next offer might be worse.
States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence
Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.
When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?
Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.
When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline
The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.
How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?
Despite its substantial-sounding name, the Electoral College isn’t a permanent body: It’s more of a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it to be changed.
