ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Sarah: an interdisciplinary scientist, nature-lover, language enthusiast, and dreamer.
Let's create the world we'll grow old in.
I have spent my academic and professional career working in environmental engineering, science and policy, focusing on two of humanity's basic needs: water and food.
My professional experience ranges from designing low-tech water treatment systems on remote islands – where I was challenged to find the most effective solution for healthy drinking water in a low-resourced setting – to remote sensing and applications of machine learning algorithms on agricultural landscapes for regional to global studies on food security amidst climate change and war.
Currently a CERC Postdoctoral Fellow at CSIRO in Australia, I am using skills in trustworthy artificial intelligence, biophysical crop modelling, stakeholder engagement, and environmental resource change to create applied science solutions for society. Before starting at CSIRO, I completed a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley in Environmental Science and Policy with a focus on the sustainability of local agricultural systems embedded into the global supply chain. I also have a Designated Emphasis in Development Engineering. My research interests are in water, agriculture, land tenure, and global food systems. I use machine learning of satellite imagery, geospatial datasets, biophysical modelling and artificial intelligence to understand local to global food systems. I use science as a tool for examining the little-known and connecting communities.
In my free time, I mentor students looking to pursue careers in STEM, and work to build an inclusive community within the groups I am a part of.
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley
PhD. Environmental Science, Policy and Management (2024)
University of Delaware
B.E. Environmental Engineering (2017)
Publications, Presentations & Press
Publications
E. Abebe Kebede, K. Oluoch, S. Siebert, P. Mehta, S. Hartman, J. Jägermeyr, D. Ray, T. Ali, K. Brauman, Q. Deng, W. Xie, K. Frankel Davis. (2024). A global open-source dataset of monthly irrigated and rainfed cropped areas (MIRCA-OS) for the 21st century. Earth Arvix (preprint). https://eartharxiv.org/repository/object/7341/download/14024/
E. Abebe Kebede, H. Abou Ali, T. Clavelle, H. Froehlich, J. Gephart, S. Hartman, M. Herrero, H. Kerner, P. Mehta, C. Nakalembe, D. Ray, S. Siebert, P. Thornton, Davis K. Frankel Davis. (2024). Assessing and addressing the global state of food production data scarcity. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00516-2
S. Karimzadeh, S. Hartman, D.D. Chiarelli, M.C. Rulli, P. D'Odorico. (2023). The tradeoff between water savings and salinization prevention in dryland irrigation. Advances in Water Resources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2023.104604
S. J. Smidt, E. M. K. Haacker, X. Bai, K. Cherkauer, B. Choat, O. Crompton, J. M. Deines, J. Groh, S. M. Guzmán, S. Hartman, A. D. Kendall, M. Safeeq, W. Kustas, B. M. McGill, M. A. Nocco, J. Pensky, J. Rapp, A. Schreiner-Mcgraw, M. Sprenger, L. Wan, L. Weldegebriel, S. Zipper, D. Zoccatelli. (2023). Forming the Future of Agrohydrology. Earth’s Future. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003410
Hartman, S., Farfán, M., Hoogesteger, J., D’Odorico, P. (2022). Mapping the expansion of berry greenhouses onto Michoacán's ejido lands, México. Environ. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac9ac8
Hartman, S., et al. (2021). A growing produce bubble: United States produce tied to Mexico's unsustainable agricultural water use. Environ. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac286d
Hartman, S., Horner, W., Jackson, C., Kovak, E., Velan, V. (2020). Policy Memo: Streamlining USDA Regulation of Gene Editing to Benefit US Agriculture. Journal of Science Policy & Governance. *Equal contribution by all. https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG170108
Kearns, J., Krupp, A., Hartman, S., Szogas, K., De Boskey, M., Harrington, J. (2019). Evaluation of arsenic field test kits as a learning exercise for engineering students in global water and sanitation class. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship. https://doi.org/10.24908/ijsle.v14i1.12528
Kearns, J., Krupp, A., Diek, E., Mitchell, S., Dossi, S., Hartman, S. (2018). Lead-lag series and staged parallel operational strategies improve the performance and cost effectiveness of bone char for control of fluoride in groundwater. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2018.111
Hartman, S. (2019, March 21). Thirsting for water: The challenge for the Philippines. Rappler, Retrieved from http://www.rappler.com (News article)
Presentations
Factors Impacting Agricultural Resilience in Ukraine: A Historical to Near-Real-Time Analysis. S Hartman, I Dronova, R Whiteside. Poster Presentation. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. 2023.
SDG6 in the Era of the Paris Agreement: Changes and Tradeoffs in Tailoring Water Sector Priorities to Global Climate Goals. K Cullen, S Hartman, M Hingst, MS Hossain, I Jorgensen, T Maurer, N Mirnasi, S Solagbade, S Sherif, M Sluder. Invited Oral Presentation. American Geophysical Union. 2023.
Advances in Earth Observation and Monitoring Environmental Impacts of Armed Conflicts. Session Co-Convener with L Weldegebriel, E Negash, J Van Den Hoek, E Darbyshire, I Dronova. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. 2023.
Cartografia de la espansion de los invernaderos de frutos rojos en las tierras ejidales de Michoacán, México.
Oral presentation in Spanish. University of Guanajuato Transdisciplinary Case Studies Seminar Series. Guanajuato, México. 2022.
Are We on the Same Page? What COP26 Taught Us About Sectoral Alignment in the Global Water-Climate Policy Space.
K Cullen, S Hartman, M Hingst, MS Hossain, I Jorgensen, T Maurer, N Mirnasi, S Solagbade, S Sherif, M Sluder. Oral Presentation. American Geophysical Union. 2022.
Using earth Observation to Measure Shifting Patterns in Ukraine Agriculture During Conflict in Near-Real-Time. S Hartman, I Dronova, P D'Odorico. Oral Presentation. American Geophysical Union 2022.
Global Sustainable Engineering.
University of Delaware Global Sustainable Engineering Course. Guest Lecture. Delaware, USA. 2022.
An Empirical Synthesis of the COP26 Water Pavilion: Integrating Water and Climate Policy Frameworks.
Oral presentation. UC Berkeley Climate & Impacts Research Hub. California, USA. 2022.
The COP26 Water Pavilion: Insights, Opportunities, and Challenges of Integrating Water and Climate Policy in the Future. Oral presentation. American Geophysical Union Frontiers in Hydrology. Puerto Rico, USA. 2022.
¿Qué nos pueden decir los modelos biofísicos y las imágenes satelitales sobre el uso agrícola del agua en México?
Oral Presentation. World Water Day, Querétaro. Querétaro, México. Presentation in Spanish. 2022.
Globalization of Natural Resources.
UC Berkeley Principles of Natural Resource Management Course. Guest Lecture. California, USA.
The Irrigation Frontline: Examining Land Use Change and Resource Rights Fueling the Michoacán Berry Boom.
Oral presentation. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. 2021.
The Show Must Go On: Leveraging online tools for volunteer events and fundraising.
Oral presentation. Engineers Without Borders USA National Conference. 2021.
Agricultura de Riego: ¿La fortuna o maldición de la sustenibilidad?
Oral presentation. Universidad de Guanajuato. Guanajuato, Mexico. Presentation in Spanish. 2021.
Product of Mexico: The Socio-Environmental Impacts of Food Trade.
Oral presentation. Science at Cal, Grounds for Science. 2021. [Watch here!]
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Crop Virtual Water Trade from Mexico to the United States.
Oral presentation. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. 2020.
Assessing the Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting for Drinking Water in Cebu.
Invited oral presenter. 4th University Research Conference, University of San Carlos. Cebu, Philippines. 2019.
Rainwater Harvesting: Unlocked Potential.
Representative for Philippines Fulbright at the Fulbright ETA, Researchers and Scholars in East Asia and Pacific Region Conference. Invited panelist and presenter of Fulbright research. Taipei, Taiwan. 2019.
Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Engaging Stakeholders Through Technology.
Invited oral presenter. International Rivers Summit. Cebu, Philippines. 2018.
Water and Sanitation in the 21st Century.
Invited guest speaker. NASA Space Apps Challenge. Manila, Philippines. 2018.
Sanitation: Engineering a Sustainable Future.
Invited oral presenter. University of San Carlos, School of Architecture. Cebu, Philippines. 2018.
Les préoccupations et les solutions de l'eau à San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
Invited forum speaker. San Miguel French Forum. Guanajuato, Mexico. Presentation given in French. 2018.
Press
Engineering Change Abroad Alumni Interview. 2018.
US scholar studies on rain harvesting in Metro Cebu. 2018.
Nine Win Fulbrights. 2018.
Water: A Medium for Life, Engineers Without Borders Art Gala Fundraiser. 2017.
Sarah Hartman Named Truman Scholar. 2016.
Off-the-grid Eco Vapor Toilet. 2016.
Radio Interview about Engineers Without Borders, University of Delaware projects. 2015.
