Dr. SARAH HELEN PARCAK
Assistant Professor, Director, Laboratory for Global Health Observation
Dept. of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Heritage Hall 314, University Blvd, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1152
Phone: 205-934-3508 Fax 205-934-9896
Education: Cambridge University, PhD 2005
Trinity College, Department of Archaeology (Egyptian Archaeology)
Cambridge University, M. Phil 2002
Trinity College, Department of Archaeology (Egyptian Archaeology)
Yale University, BA 2001
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (Egyptology) and Archaeological Studies
Positions Held:
2007- Present Founding Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Health
Responsible for initiating, developing, and running UAB's satellite remote sensing laboratory, including research initiatives, faculty/student training and budget management, teach remote sensing courses for UAB students and faculty
2006- Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track): Dept. of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
2005- 2006 Sessional Lecturer: University of Wales-Swansea
Awards/Fellowships:
2008 Nominated for Leadership Alabama
2007-8 $50,000 NASA remote sensing grant
$25,000 UAB Decanal support
$15,000 NSF ADVANCE Junior Faculty award
$10,000 UAB Faculty Development Grant
2006-7 $50,000 UAB Research Endowment Fund
$20,544 NSF ADVANCE grant
$ 2,000 Seven Pillars of Wisdom Fund (UK)
Teaching Experience:
Positions Held:
2007- Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Health
Responsible for initiating, developing, and running UAB's satellite remote sensing laboratory.
2006- Assistant Professor: Dept. of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Courses taught: Introduction to Archaeology, Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Observing the Earth from Space, Ancient Egyptian Culture. Real World Remote Sensing
2005- 2006 Sessional Lecturer: University of Wales-Swansea
Publications/Reports:
Books
1. 2007 Remote Sensing in Archaeology, Routledge (book contract in-hand), in preparation, due August 2008
2. 2007 21st Century Anthropology, Editorial Board, Sage Publications
3. 2005 Encyclopedia of Anthropology, Editorial Board, Sage Publications
2008 “Geographic Mapping Culex (Culex) quiquefasciatus oviposition surveillance sites in Trijidad and Tobago,” International Journal for Remote Sensing, B. Jacob, D. Chadee, S.Parcak, E. Murturi, R. Novak (submitted for review)
2008 "The skeptical remote senser," Studies in Honor of Barry J. Kemp, American University in Cairo Press (In press)
2008 “Survey in Egyptology,” Egyptology Today (ed. R. Wilkinson), Cambridge University Press, 41-65.
2007 “The Middle Egypt Survey Project: 2005/6 season report,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 92, 3-8
2007 "Going, going, gone: towards a satellite remote sensing methodology for monitoring archaeological tell sites under threat in the Middle East," Journal of Field Archaeology 42, 61-83
2005 “Satellites and Survey in Middle Egypt,” Egyptian Archaeology, Fall/Winter 2005, 28-32
2004 “Finding new archaeological sites in Egypt using satellite remote sensing: Case studies from Middle Egypt and the Delta,” International Conference for Remote Sensing Archaeology,136-141.
2004 "Results from the 2004 Middle Egypt Survey," The Egyptian Museum Bulletin, A publication of the Supreme Council For Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, 6 pages.
.2004 "Pharaonic ventures into South Sinai," (co-author G. Mumford) Journal of Egyptian Archeology 89, 83-116.
2004 "Satellite Remote Sensing Resources for Egyptology, " in Gottinger Mitzellen 198, , 63-78.
2003 "New methods for Archaeological Site Detection via satellite image analysis: Case Studies from Sinai and the Delta, Archaeologia Polonia 41, 243-245.
2002 "Satellite imagery analysis and new fieldwork in South Sinai, Egypt (El-Markha Plain),” (co-author G. Mumford) Antiquity 76 (4), 953-4.
Media Coverage of Research
2007/8 “Egypt: global warning”, Discovery Channel, work featured on show and was show host, airing April 2008
2007 “NASA Scientists learn to speak new language,” December 2007, science.nasa.gov
2007 “Back to the future: satellite imagery propels public health to new heights and insights,” The Handle, UAB School of Public Health, fall 2007.
2007 “From UAB, professor finds ruins in space,” Thomas Spencer, 2007 (Birmingham News, Montgomery Advisor, Florida Herald Tribune, eschoolnews.com)
2007 “Eyes in space: satellite remote sensing gives researchers new tools to find answers,” Laura Freeman, Birmingham Medical Journal, October 2007
2007 “New research laboratory opens at UAB,” FOX News Interview, Sept. 6th
2007 “New lab opening,” NPR interview with Rosemary Pennington, July 11th
2007 “Ancient Egyptian city spotted from space,” Top news on AOL, MSNBC, Yahoo, Google, LiveScience, June 5th
2006 “Google Earth, Satellite Maps boost armchair archaeology,” National Geographic News 11/08
2006 Archaeology News, Norman Hammond, The Times, p. 114
2003 "Time and Change," The Economist, Dec.22-Jan 2nd, 114-115.
Professional Presentations:
Conference Papers/Invited Lectures: 80+ presentations and invited lectures given across the globe