Vienna, Austria | 23–27 June 2025

RESEARCHTURK Space Founders Dr. Tamer Özalp and Nil Özalp participated in the European Space Agency (ESA) Living Planet Symposium 2025 (LPS25), held at the Austria Center Vienna from 23 to 27 June 2025.

One of the world’s leading Earth Observation events, LPS25 brought together scientists, researchers, space agencies, public institutions, international organisations, and industry representatives under the theme “From Observation to Climate Action and Sustainability for Earth.” The symposium welcomed approximately 6,900 participants representing 125 nationalities and featured more than 4,200 scientific presentations and posters.

ResearchTURK Space contributed to the scientific programme through two oral presentations and one poster presented by Dr. Tamer Özalp, addressing cultural heritage monitoring, geological system analysis, and urban development monitoring.

Oral Presentation 1:

“Monitoring of Cultural Heritage Assets in 3D+ Virtual Space: A Methodological Framework Utilizing AIDL4CH.”

Oral Presentation 2:

“A Geological ‘System’ Analysis for Better Understanding of Mineral-rich Sedimentary Basins: Using and Integrating Multistage/scale Data and Space-based Imaging Systems – A Case Study in Türkiye.”

Poster Presentation:

“Monitoring and Detection of Urban Developments through Integration of Multiple Satellite Image Sources (Radar and Optical): A Case Study in Turkey.”

The symposium also held particular significance as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of ESA. A special session on 24 June commemorated five decades of satellite Earth Observation, highlighting major scientific and technological achievements while reflecting on the future of European Earth Observation.

The opening programme featured distinguished representatives of the European and international space community, including Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General; Simonetta Cheli, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN; and Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen addressed the symposium through a video message.

For Dr. Tamer Özalp, one of the most memorable moments of LPS25 was the opportunity to meet Simonetta Cheli again after many years. Having conducted his doctoral research at ESA-ESRIN between 1995 and 1998, Özalp shared a long-standing professional connection with Cheli dating back to those years. Their reunion during ESA’s 50th anniversary year was a particularly meaningful moment, bringing back memories of his early research years at ESRIN.

Beyond the scientific sessions, the symposium provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with former ESA-ESRIN colleagues, exchange ideas with researchers from European institutions, and meet international project partners working in Earth Observation, digital technologies, and cultural heritage.