The young researchers at the ESA Research Centre
Climate Detectives is an educational project run by the European Space Agency (ESA), coordinated in France by CNES through its ESERO France office, which enables students to investigate actual climate and environmental issues whilst developing skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, scientific research, and problem-solving. Climate Detectives invites European students to design and carry out their own investigations into topics ranging from droughts to deforestation or biodiversity.
Every year, to mark the conclusion of the project, ESA invites a team from each of the 21 participating countries to its ESRIN centre in Italy to take part in a true scientific conference. From 27 to 29 May 2026, the students had the opportunity to present their research, engage directly with ESA experts, and take part in various hands-on educational activities related to Earth observation. The teams were able to explore how artificial intelligence contributes to Earth observation and were encouraged to link local environmental issues to global Earth systems and space-based solutions.
From the rivers of the Aveyron to ESA’s Italian center
Among the many research projects successfully carried out by the French teams, the team from Alexis Monteil High School was selected to present their work to the other European teams and ESA specialists. The students were thus able to explain the work they had carried out to study the impact of climate change on phytoplankton, both on an oceanic scale and in the River Aveyron.
This work was presented during a poster session, during which the students were able to explain their problems, methodologies and results to the other teams. The students compared their approaches, shared their ideas and reflected on how European communities live with and respond to environmental change.
After three intensive days of practical activities, discussions, and exchanges, the students returned home with new knowledge, inspiring memories, new friendships and a renewed motivation to continue exploring space-based solutions, climate and environmental challenges, and their own role in addressing them.
The whole ESERO France team would like to congratulate everyone who took part in the Climate Detectives 2025–2026 project! We hope to see even more of you next year.
