ESA EO Open Science Newsletter

News from EO Open Science

April 2026

Highlights: The first EarthCARE MAAP Hackathon; the second ESA-NASA Workshop on AI Foundation models for EO; New ITT on Earth Observation for Biodiversity; Eradiate: ESA at EGU26: discover the latest in Earth Observation; a 3D Radiative Transfer Model now on EarthCODE; Registrations open for the

Φnnovation Summit 2026; Science Hub Fellow to join the WHIRLS expedition.

The ESA EO Open Science team

Highlights

First EarthCARE MAAP Hackathon

Last week, ESA hosted its first EarthCARE MAAP Hackathon at ESRIN, Frascati, from April 20–24, 2026. The five-day in-person event invites postgraduate students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers to explore data from the EarthCARE satellite, a joint ESA/JAXA mission launched in May 2024, using ESA's Multi-mission Analysis and Algorithm Platform (MAAP). Topics span cloud microphysics, aerosol interactions, lightning, dust events, and machine learning applications.

EVENT PAGE

ESA-NASA 2nd Workshop on AI Foundation Model for EO

Following the success of its first edition, the second ESA–NASA International Workshop on AI Foundation Models for Earth Observation will take place in 2026. The event will highlight recent advances, collaborative research, and emerging applications of AI in Earth observation, bringing together experts across science, technology, and data communities worldwide.

WORKSHOP

New ITT on Earth Observation Indicators for Biodiversity

ESA has launched an Invitation to Tender on “EO for Essential Biodiversity Variables GBF Indicators”, supporting the Convention on Biological Diversity. The initiative develops Earth observation–integrated workflows and tools to improve biodiversity monitoring, reporting, and decision-making, strengthening global capacity for consistent biodiversity assessment and implementation under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

ESA at EGU26: discover the latest in Earth Observation

ESA will be present at the EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna with an engaging programme of talks and live demonstrations at its booth. Bringing together scientists, developers, and policy experts, the event highlights how Earth Observation can support advancing research, supporting climate action, and enabling innovative digital services. Throughout the week, visitors can discover updates on the Copernicus Space Component, new datasets in the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, and applications for environmental monitoring. Interactive demos will showcase AI-driven tools, openEO workflows, and Destination Earth services, offering a dynamic space to explore technologies, exchange ideas, and connect with the Earth observation community.

EXPLORE THE ESA BOOTH PROGRAMME

Eradiate: a 3D radiative transfer model now on EarthCODE

Eradiate, a 3D radiative transfer model developed under ESA’s Copernicus Programme, showcases advanced Earth observation simulations within the EarthCODE Community. Built on Mitsuba 3, it leverages a powerful, flexible rendering architecture combined with scientific models tailored for EO applications. The software enables realistic scene generation by integrating land cover data, atmospheric information, and sensor characteristics, supporting high-fidelity simulations for research and analysis. It plays a key role in improving the understanding of satellite observations and advancing Earth system science.

ACCESS

GET INVOLVED

Registrations open for the

Φnnovation Summit 2026

Registrations are now open for the Φnnovation Summit 2026, hosted by ESA Φ-lab at ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, from 23 to 25 June. The event will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to explore disruptive technologies shaping the future of Earth observation, through interactive sessions, networking, and collaborative discussions.

GET INVOLVED

Science Hub Fellow to join WHIRLS expedition

Elisa Carli, an ESA Science Hub Fellow, is joining the WHIRLS initiative, a large-scale ocean–atmosphere research effort focused on the Agulhas Current System. The project combines field campaigns, autonomous platforms, satellite data, and models to investigate fine-scale physical and biogeochemical processes, advancing understanding of ocean dynamics, air–sea interactions, and marine ecosystems across scales.

EXPEDITION