ANARA.Z

Earth & Environmental Sciences Student.

Anara Zainab Profile

I am an Earth and Environmental Sciences student interested in using Earth Observation and GIS to study climate change, glacier-related hazards, and environmental risks. My work focuses on applying geospatial methods to real-world problems, particularly in high mountain regions.

Top
Cohort Rank
2x
IEEE Pubs
GIS
Analyst
3yr+
RS Experience

02 — International Mobility

Anara Zainab at CZU Prague

Erasmus+ Mobility Excellence

Institution: Czech University of Life Sciences

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Awarded the prestigious Erasmus+ Excellence scholarship. This experience confirmed my ability to manage academic responsibilities in an international setting and adapt to new challenges.

Academic Experience
Completed three courses: Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Nutritional Epidemiology, and Non-Governmental Organizations in Developed Countries. Achieved excellent grades in all courses. The academic environment emphasized applied learning, group discussions, and project-based assessment, offering a new perspective on international education.
Personal Growth & Cultural Exchange
Adapted to a new education system and multicultural environment while interacting with students from diverse backgrounds. This experience strengthened independence, cross-cultural communication, and time-management skills. Living abroad also allowed me to explore neighbouring countries, including Austria (Vienna), broadening my cultural awareness and confidence.
Relevance for Erasmus Mundus
This mobility experience confirmed my ability to manage academic responsibilities in an international setting and adapt to new challenges. It strengthened my motivation and readiness for a joint international master’s programme such as Erasmus Mundus, where mobility, collaboration, and academic intensity are central.
Mobility Confirmed
Scholarship Recipient

2023 — 2024

Research Assistant

Research Assistant – Environmental Sciences

Under supervision of Prof. Mukesh Singh Boori

Worked on a research project focused on rice yield prediction in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, using remote sensing and crop phenology approaches. The work involved developing and implementing a structured methodology for satellite-based crop monitoring rather than producing final predictive outputs.

  • Conducted a detailed literature review on crop yield prediction using GIS, remote sensing, and phenological indicators.
  • Collected and preprocessed Sentinel-2 Level-2A imagery, focusing on cloud-free scenes representing key rice growth stages.
  • Delineated rice fields using official crop maps and grid-based spatial sampling.
  • Calculated and analyzed NDVI time-series across different phenological stages to study crop development patterns.
  • Designed a methodological framework for yield modelling using machine-learning approaches (MLR, Random Forest, SVM), including planned evaluation using RMSE and R².

Although the study was not completed to the modelling stage, this work strengthened my understanding of Earth Observation workflows, phenology-based analysis, and research design for agricultural applications.

#RiceYieldPrediction #Sentinel2 #NDVI #EOMethodology

June 2024 — Aug 2024

Climate Change Intern

Climate Change Intern

Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) Dushanbe

Worked on climate change research, emissions assessment, and awareness activities supporting environmental planning and risk reduction initiatives. Contributed to the preparation of a research paper on Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) in mountain regions, focusing on climate change impacts, environmental degradation, and community vulnerability through literature review, data synthesis, and report writing.

  • Calculated CO₂ emissions from AKAH operations, including staff vehicle use, electricity consumption, and employee domestic and international travel, using activity-based data.
  • Collaborated with GIS and geology teams to support environmental risk mapping for local mountain communities.
  • Developed educational and awareness materials on basic climate change concepts, impacts, and adaptation, aimed at non-technical audiences.
  • Synthesized technical climate information into planning and strategy documents to support organizational decision-making.
#ClimateChangeResearch #CO2Assessment #RiskMapping #INRM

Oct 2025 — Dec 2025

Nov 2024 — Dec 2024

Teaching Assistant

Physics Teaching Assistant

University of Central Asia

Worked as a teaching assistant for undergraduate physics courses, supporting both instructional and academic activities. Assisted the instructor in managing coursework and helping students better understand core physics concepts.

  • Checked quizzes, homework, and assignments, and maintained Excel-based grade records.
  • Held weekly office hours to support students, clarify course material, and address learning difficulties.
  • Assisted students with problem-solving and conceptual understanding during tutorials and lab-related sessions.
  • Coordinated closely with the course instructor to monitor student progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • Gained experience in academic communication, mentoring, and classroom support within a higher-education environment.
#TeachingAssistance #PhysicsEducation #StudentSupport #AcademicCoordination

05 — Maps & Visualizations

Cartographic Gallery

Geospatial Outputs & Analysis

06 — Publications

07 — Recognition & Credentials

Academic Honors

2021 — 2025

Dean's Honor List Award

University of Central Asia

  • Academic Year 2024–25
  • Academic Year 2023–24
  • Academic Year 2021–22
View Certificates

Service & Leadership

June — July 2025

Deputy Camp Lead & Mentor

Recognized by the Aga Khan Education Board for excellence in coordinating daily operations and student well-being during the Bridge Program Summer Camp.

Professional Certifications

NASA ARSET | 2026

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing

Applied Remote Sensing Training Program

View Certificate

Esri Training | 2025

Spatial Data Science

6-week MOOC: The New Frontier in Analytics

View Certificate

PK Institute | 2021

Spoken English Certification

2-month intensive communication program

View Certificate

08 — Toolkit

Technical Competence

Continuous Learning
GIS & Remote Sensing
  • ArcGIS Pro & QGIS
  • Google Earth Engine
  • EO Data Processing
  • Sentinel-2, Landsat, DEM
Data Science
  • Python (GeoPandas)
  • R (Statistical Modeling)
  • Machine Learning
  • MLR, RF, SVM, Phenology
Research & Impact
  • Climate Risk Mapping
  • CO₂ Emissions Assessment
  • Academic Coordination
  • INRM, Disaster Mitigation
Languages

English, Urdu, Russian (Basics)

Soft Skills

Mentorship, Technical Writing, Field Research

04 — Projects & Initiatives

Geospatial Analysis

GLOF Talidas Pakistan

A digital project documenting and analyzing the 22 August 2025 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that transformed parts of Roushan village in Gilgit-Baltistan. This project uses satellite imagery, terrain analysis, field observations, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the event, visualize landscape change, and communicate hazard context.

Visit Live Portal
Satellite Imagery Terrain Analysis Hazard Communication

Advocacy & Awareness

Eco Influencers – Truth in Every Post

A web platform created to raise awareness about climate change and address common misconceptions in Pakistan. It uses accessible content, visual storytelling, and youth engagement to encourage informed understanding of climate science and promote positive environmental action.

Visit Live Portal

Focus

Climate change myths vs facts

Approach

Science-based interactive content

Community Leadership

Bridge Camp – Community Education

Mentor → Co-Camp Lead

Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan

Bridge Camp is a community education initiative supporting students from flood-affected areas who lack access to quality schooling. Each year, around 100–150 students participate in a two to three-week residential camp, where we voluntarily teach Cambridge-standard subjects, with a strong focus on English and core academic skills.

Teaching at Bridge Camp
Mentorship Session
Academic Outcomes & Support

At the end of the camp, high-performing students are selected for full or partial fee scholarships and are supported in enrolling in English-medium schools and colleges. Through this initiative, I contributed to teaching, mentoring, coordination, and supporting equal access to education for students from vulnerable communities.