Joseph Olwendo completed a B.Sc. (physics major) and M.Sc. (physics) in 2005 and 2008, respectively, at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He proceeded to obtain his Ph.D. in 2015 from Pwani University in Kenya focusing on characterizing ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics over the East African region using data derived from Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS). Since then, he has been based at Pwani University actively carrying out research in space science in collaboration with colleagues within the African continent, Europe, United States, and China, among others. Joseph’s research involves low-latitude electrodynamics, especially ionospheric irregularities and their drivers, as well as validation of models with the aim of improving navigation and positioning applications. At the beginning of his research career, Joseph contributed to ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics in a region where there was (and remains) data scarcity, and as a result, he improvised by combining ground- and space-based data to interpret and understand complex ionospheric phenomena. Recognizing data scarcity as an impediment to research, Joseph set out to fill in the data gaps by contributing to instruments deployment. This resulted in installation of GNSS receivers and ionosondes in Kenya. This was made possible by Joseph’s ability to form valuable collaborations with different institutions such as the South African National Space Agency; National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Rome, Italy; International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy; and China Research Institute of Radio Wave Propagation. He has been able to do this under the umbrella of the Space Weather Monitoring and Research Laboratory, which he formed and heads at Pwani University in Kenya. Linked to instrument deployment and space science research, Joseph initiated and organized the first “Eastern African Capacity building workshop in space weather science and GNSS technology” in 2018. This event brought together postgraduate students and early-career researchers within the African continent to learn from each other and senior colleagues as well as share expertise in space science research. Since then, it has become an annual workshop co-organized in collaboration with ICTP (and supported by several funding institutions/agencies) and involves participants within and outside the African continent. Joseph has contributed to scholarly literature exemplified by his peer-reviewed publications as well as undergraduate and postgraduate teaching (including supervision). Joseph has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, with a significant number (18) as first author. He regularly contributes as a lecturer in capacity-building efforts and acts as a mentor for postgraduate students and colleagues. —John Bosco Habarulema, South African National Space Agency, Hermanus, South Africa

Joseph Olwendo will receive the Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early Career Award in Sun-Earth Systems Science. He will present a talk and will be formally presented with the award at the 2016 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, to be held 12–16 December in San Francisco, Calif.  

Joseph Olwendo received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in theoretical physics in 2005 and 2008, respectively, from the University of Nairobi. He got his Ph.D. in space physics under the supervision of Paul Baki from Pwani University, Kilifi (Kenya) in 2014. His research interest has been on equatorial ionospheric dynamics and ionospheric plasma density irregularities using GNSS signals over the East African sector. He also works on ionospheric model validation and navigation applications and, since 2015, has been visiting the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) on a short-term basis in his capacity as a junior associate scientist. At ICTP he works with NeQuick 2 model research group under Sandro M. Radicella.