Living Planet Fellowship call for proposals 2025

On-Hold Temporary

Please, note that the Living Planet fellowship call 2025 is on hold temporary. We are adapting the documentation to a new and more adequate collaborative framework.

The updated documents and new deadline for submission of proposals will be communicated in September.

With this change ESA aims at improving the process and establish a more adequate contractual framework with the host institutions.

The scientific content and scope of the Living Planet Fellowship will remain unchanged. The main objective of the Living Planet Fellowship is

“to support young scientists, at post-doctoral level, to undertake cutting-edge research in Earth Observation, Earth System Science or Climate Research, maximising the scientific return of ESA and European EO missions and datasets through the development of novel EO methods, techniques and products, and by delivering excellent scientific results addressing the key science questions in the ESA EO Science Strategy, enabling improved predictions of the physical interaction of society with the Earth system.”

RESEARCH AREAS

Projects shall address a  2-year research plan contributing to at least one of the following research areas:

1. Advancing Novel Methods and Techniques: Targeted research projects aimed at developing innovative methods, novel algorithms and new EO products and datasets expanding the scientific use of the Sentinel missions, the Earth Explorers or the ESA long-term data archives into new scientific areas and application domains. Activities shall establish a solid basis to expand the missions’ product portfolio and stimulate novel science results and innovative applications. Priority will be given to develop and validate novel algorithms, data processing techniques, advanced methodologies and new EO-based products that may maximise the novel capabilities offered by the Sentinel missions, the unique data offered by the Earth Explorers, the long-term series of ESA data archives, and its synergies also in combination with meteorological and non-ESA missions.
2. Advancing Earth System Science: Cutting-edge scientific activities aimed at maximizing the scientific impact of ESA and European missions in terms of new discoveries and advances in Earth system science addressing the challenges of the ESA EO Science Strategy (Section 3). Projects shall contribute to answer major open questions in Earth system science, address global scientific challenges and community priorities posed by international Earth System Science communities and international science groups (e.g., WCRP, SOLAS, AIMES, iLEAPS, GCP, etc…).
3. Advancing Data-driven Earth System Simulations and Predictability Science: Scientific activities aiming at advancing the state-of-the-art in data-driven Earth system simulations and predictability science bringing together EO data, advanced models and AI and ML techniques (e.g., foundation models) to deliver a quantum leap in our capacity to simulate and predict the dynamic evolution of the Earth system with special focus on exploring the potential of AI and hybrid approaches to overcome the fundamental limitations in current modelling approaches to characterise different components of the Earth system with especial focus on extremes events, their drivers and impacts.
4. Activities in Support of the Sentinel User Preparation Programme: Scientific research aimed at preparation of European entities to exploit the opportunities offered by the future Copernicus Sentinel Expansion and Next Generation missions. In particular, projects shall contribute to the development of the scientific basis for novel methods, algorithms and products beyond core mission objectives and goals with a focus on exploring the scientific opportunities offered by the huge synergistic potential across missions in all domains of Earth system science. Activities are expected to be based on “proxy” data (similar sensors and data types that could be used to simulate the data) from existing missions (e.g., national missions), airborne campaigns or even simulated data (e.g., model inversions).

IMPORTANT DATES

Any questions relating to this Call must be sent, by e-mail to EOScience@esa.int, not later than two (2) weeks before the Closing Date.

Frequently Asked Questions