Activities scientific NPOC

At the end of May 2026, the scientific NPOC had the opportunity to conduct a double lesson as part of a German-Geography block course at Kantonsschule Wetzikon. The course focused on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and was aimed at students in the 2nd year of the long-term Gymnasium programme (8th school year).

At the end of May 2026, the scientific NPOC participated in Fantasy Basel, one of Switzerland’s largest pop culture and fantasy conventions, attracting around 100,000 visitors. As part of the Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) consortium, the NPOC showcased the fascinating world of Earth observation at the joint exhibition booth.

The popular satellite image puzzle of Switzerland is available again – revised and ready for use in classrooms and outreach activities!

In April 2026, the scientific NPOC had the opportunity to once again conduct a workshop together with the startup askEarth, to introduce teachers to the use of satellite data in school education.

On 3 December, Ella Schubiger from the scientific NPOC gave a presentation at Switzerland’s largest planetarium, located at the Verkehrshaus Luzern.

What do earth observation and astronomy have in common? One focusses on our home planet, the other on the depths of space. Despite their different orientations, both disciplines share not only technical and scientific principles, but also a deep curiosity and passion for understanding the cosmos. On 12 April, the scientific NPOC was invited to present the perspective of Earth observation at the Astronomy Conference and Delegates' Meeting of the umbrella organisation of Swiss amateur astronomy in Bülach. The lecture spanned the spectrum from the beginnings of satellite-based earth observation to technical backgrounds such as types of satellites, orbits, missions and image interpretation through to current insights into research. Ultimately, both astronomy and Earth observation show that our understanding of Earth and space can only grow through the interaction of both perspectives.

The Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) at the SwissTech Convention Center, EPFL Lausanne (February 11-14 2025) are the premier conference where industry leaders, academics, innovative startups, and forward-thinking government representatives come together to explore and drive the future of AI and machine learning.

In November 2024, the scientific NPOC, together with the startup askEarth, hosted a full-day training session for middle and high school teachers. During this workshop, participants explored the fundamentals of satellite remote sensing in three stages. They worked with askEarth’s online tool as well as the Copernicus Browser, and ultimately had the opportunity to process and analyse satellite data directly in the open-source platform QGIS. As a continuation of the HSGYM event from January of the same year, this workshop further deepened theoretical knowledge about Earth observation satellites and the visualization of EO data. By introducing three platforms of varying complexity, teachers gained the flexibility to adapt the content to different grade levels, allowing them to design dynamic and engaging lessons.

The scientific NPOC, with support by Swissmem and SCNAT, produced this video showcasing the Extensive Involvement of Switzerland in Earth Observation. Did you know that satellite imagery plays a crucial role in understanding biodiversity, the cryosphere, climate change, and more? Switzerland’s researchers, industries, and institutions are at the forefront of Earth observation, and help building the satellites and monitor and track environmental changes every day. Swiss-made solutions and applications deepen our understanding and aid in protecting our planet.

tunBasel is a returning, interactive experience for children and young people aged 7 to 13.