Abstract:

Earth observation (EO) is a key technology for analysing, monitoring, modelling, visualising and communicating changes on the Earth's surface, and is therefore an appropriate way to better understand the Earth system. EO is also a fast-growing economic sector with a need for specialised workforce, capacity building and training. Therefore, national and international organisations and institutions (e.g. ESA, NASA, European Commission), universities have developed programmes to integrate EO into lifelong learning from primary to higher and informal education.

This contribution focuses on the presentation of best practice examples, education and training activities in the network of Copernicus Academy carried out in the Czech Republic as well as in international dimensions. The aim of the Copernicus Academy network is to connect research and academic institutions with public authorities, to facilitate collaborative research, to develop lectures, training sessions, internships, and educational and training materials to equip the next generation of students, teachers, researchers and scientists with the appropriate skills to make full use of Earth Observation/Copernicus data and geoinformatics/GIS. The results of the Copernicus Academy CZ initiatives will be presented and discussed to demonstrate innovative applications of EO education in the education sector at different levels, from primary schools to universities.

Keywords:

Education, Earth observation, STEM, Czechia, Copernicus, training.