Thomas Ratsakatika
Rucăr village and forested hills in the Southern Carpathians under a stormy sky

Rucăr, Southern Carpathians

PhD researcher · University of Cambridge

I use machine learning and remote sensing to map forests and monitor wildlife, informed by ten years leading international programmes and policy.

Selected work

Research and implementation in partnership with Fundația Conservation Carpathia in Romania's Făgăraș Mountains

Preprint · September 2026 · under review

Map of predicted old-growth forest probability across the Făgăraș Mountains
Old-growth forest across the Făgăraș Mountains, from most likely (green) to least likely (red).

Geospatial embeddings detect old-growth forests but buffered spatial validation narrows their advantage over Sentinel features

Foundation-model embeddings and ordinary Sentinel features can detect old-growth forests. However, once training and test sites are kept 10 km apart, the embeddings' initial advantage is less clear. This paper shows why spatial relationships matter when mapping old-growth forests.

Read the preprint Data Code

Deployed · 2024 · real-time wildlife alerts

Camera-trap photograph of a brown bear in a forest clearing with the model's detection box
A European brown bear detected by the real-time wildlife alert system. Photo © Fundația Conservation Carpathia.

Using AI to help rangers protect wildlife and rural communities

A two-stage AI classifier identifies wildlife, such as bears, wolves and wild boar, in photos received from internet-enabled camera traps. The system then sends real-time alerts to Fundația Conservation Carpathia's rapid intervention teams. In operational use since May 2024.

Read the story Watch the demo Code

Portrait of Thomas Ratsakatika

Experience

My work sits between research, engineering and policy. I spent ten years with the UK Government, including postings to British embassies and high commissions in DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. In those roles I led teams of technical specialists and programme managers, securing over £85 million for infrastructure, climate and job-creation programmes. I returned to Cambridge in 2023 to specialise in machine learning and remote sensing. I now lead research on old-growth forest detection and have deployed an AI-based wildlife monitoring system that has been in operational use since 2024.

  1. 2023–

    PhD and MRes, Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Environmental Risks, University of Cambridge

    Old-growth forest detection from satellite data and geospatial foundation models, and real-time wildlife alerts from camera traps, in partnership with Fundația Conservation Carpathia. Lead author of a study testing whether geospatial foundation models (AlphaEarth, TESSERA) beat conventional Sentinel-1/2 features for finding old-growth forests. Talks at ML4EO 2026 (Exeter, UK) and the Joint NSO–GfÖ Conference 2026 (Odense, Denmark). Undergraduate supervision in remote sensing and quantitative methods.

    Survey drone on a car bonnet in front of spruce forest

  2. 2024–

    Expert Committee Member, Biodiversity Challenge Funds

    Strategic and funding advice for the Darwin Initiative, the UK's grant scheme for biodiversity and local communities.

  3. 2020–2023

    Head of the Private Sector Development Hub, British High Commission, Tanzania

    Led the UK's partnership with Tanzania on climate finance and private sector development. Diplomatic engagement ahead of COP26, after which Tanzania doubled its mitigation target and removed coal from its energy plan. Secured a £35m green growth programme. Ran a pilot using AI on satellite imagery to detect mangrove loss in the Rufiji Delta.

    Farmland and mountains in northern Tanzania

  4. 2017–2020

    Deputy Team Leader, Economic Growth, British High Commission, Sierra Leone

    Pivoted the UK's post-Ebola economic partnership towards long-term growth and jobs. Designed and mobilised Invest Salone (£30m) for agribusiness, tourism and fisheries. Oversaw a US$50m public-private partnership to build and run 100 solar mini-grids.

    Visiting a solar mini-grid in Sierra Leone

  5. 2015–2017

    Private Sector Development Adviser, British Embassy, Democratic Republic of Congo

    Managed a £70m portfolio of agriculture, renewable energy and public works programmes, including one of the UK's largest market systems programmes, which has reached an estimated 979,000 people. Redesigned a £20m road programme in the conflict-affected east; construction employed 2,000 people.

    A four-by-four on a muddy forest road in eastern DR Congo

  6. 2013–2015

    Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (formerly DFID), London and Glasgow

    Economic Analyst in the Chief Economist's Office.
    Private Sector Development Adviser in the Investment Climate Team.

  7. 2012–2013

    MPhil Engineering for Sustainable Development, University of Cambridge · Distinction

    Field research on social enterprise in Ecuador.

  8. 2010–2012

    Associate Consultant, Aon Investment Consulting, London

    Financial models across the major asset classes; administered a £240m derivative fund. Completed the CFA Program (2012); awarded the CFA charter (2021).

  9. 2005–2010

    MEng Aerospace Engineering, University of Bath · First class

    Placement year at Leonardo (AgustaWestland), modelling rotor-blade vibration and cracking in composite blades.

Talks

Teaching

  • Supervisions · Department of Geography, Cambridge Global Environmental Change: Ecosystems, Carbon, Climate and Remote Sensing, second-year undergraduates
  • Dissertation workshops · Department of Geography, Cambridge Quantitative methods and remote sensing for undergraduate dissertations