By Laura Risley and Ieuan Higgs, October 2024
This year’s National Earth Observation Conference was held in York from 10th – 12th September at the National STEM centre, bringing together the UK Earth Observation community across research, government and industry. This event is always a great chance for scientists, policymakers and industry professionals to share knowledge and showcase the latest advancements in the field of Earth observation.
As members of NCEO (National Centre of Earth Observation) it was a fantastic event to meet up with collaborators and peers we have come to know over the years, as well as meet the influx of new faces that find their way into the NCEO.
Highlights from the Event
The three-day event was packed with fascinating talks, workshops, and presentations, with something for everyone in the EO community. One particularly notable session came from the European Space Agency (ESA). They discussed their long-term strategy and future initiatives for Earth observation. This promises to shape the future of the field for years to come.
Many members of the Data Assimilation Research Centre (DARC) were also in attendance, contributing to the event with posters and presentations. Keynote presentations were also given by Guannan Hu and Ieuan Higgs. Their talk’s were titled “Assessing the Value of Observations in Weather Forecasting” and “Using Machine Learning to Improve Data Assimilation in Marine Ecosystem Modelling.” Each presentation not only sparked engaging discussions but also highlighted the cutting-edge research being conducted in EO.
Fun and Awards
One of the more lighthearted and enjoyable aspects of the conference was the gala dinner. This fun and celebratory event gave attendees a chance to relax and socialise outside of the conference sessions. It was a wonderful opportunity to further network with others in the EO community and celebrate the shared passion for our work.
The “Best Presentation” award was won (deservingly) by University of Reading’s very own Christopher Merchant. He gave a compelling presentation about the global sea surface temperatures associated with the 2023 and 2024 El Niño.
For us personally (Ieuan and Laura), this conference was a fitting end to a significant chapter of our academic careers. It is also a reminder of how vital Earth observation is to solving some of the biggest environmental challenges we face. As the EO community continues to evolve, we’re excited to see how the research and collaborations forged at this event will influence the future of the field.