How is the EO Science Strategy Workshop structured? 

The Workshop programme is built around three interactive elements:  

• A plenary session from 13h30 to 18h00 on May 7th to present the development of the draft EO science strategy including the enabling tools that support its implementation (called Enablers of Earth Action in the programme)

• Four parallel interactive splinter sessions to discuss and collect feedback from the EO Science Community on different aspects of the strategy. These take place on May 8th from 9h00 to 11h00. For planning and capacity purposes, participants are requested to select the splinter they intend to participate in ahead of the workshop,  and it will be indicated on your badge when you register.

• A concluding plenary session on May 8th from 11h30 - 16h00 during which the summary of the splinter discussions will be presented and the next steps to finalise the strategy outlined.

There is no need for participants to prepare or propose a presentation at this workshop. However, illustrative material prepared by participants ahead of time to support discussions during the splinter sessions is welcome.  

How can I prepare to contribute to the workshop? 

You will receive a lot of information during the first plenary session from 13h30 to 18h00 on May 7th. There will also be the occasion to ask questions during the session. In addition you may prepare for the workshop by consulting the relevant documents found in Workshop Documents folder. We draw your attention to two documents which form the key material for the workshop:

1.      Draft EO Science Strategy Document

2.      Candidate Science Questions reference document

Will the workshop also be virtual as well as in-person? 

All plenary workshop sessions will be live-streamed and can be followed online. The link to the streaming site will be posted on the workshop website before the start of the workshop. 

However, please note that:

• The interactive splinter sessions and discussions taking place between 9h00 to 11h00 on May 8th will not be live-streamed as these as these rely on interactive discussions and require in-person participation;

• The live-stream does NOT provide opportunities to ask questions online or to interact with the presenters.

When will the details of the splinter sessions be published including seed questions? 

The title and seed questions for each splinter are expected to be published on the workshop website on Monday May 6th. 

What is the previous ESA EO Science Strategy and where can I find it? 

The previous EO science strategy entitled “EARTH OBSERVATION SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR ESA: A New Era for Scientific Advances and Societal Benefits” was published in 2015 and is available on the workshop website under the “Workshop Documents” tab.