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Congratulations to Lucy Wells who successfully defended her PhD thesis: “Mapping the world’s dry tropical biomes; a structural and functional approach using remote sensing”.

The panel of examiners was very impressed with Lucy’s depth of knowledge, methodological rigor and impactful findings.

A special thank you note goes out to Lucy’s supervisor, Dr Casey Ryan, Dr Kyle Dexter and both examiners, Dr Patrick Meir and Dr Nicola Stevens.

During her time as a SENSE student, Lucy enjoyed her training programme and networking opportunities that helped to connect with other SENSE students. Lucy also praised the support received through her CASE partner and supervisory team. In her own words:

My supervisory team based in Edinburgh were excellent and we had a very good working relationship. I was able to use various areas of expertise from my supervisors when I needed it and was welcomed into both research groups. The same is also true of my additional supervisor at Exeter university, who we added to the team when I began my PhD as he has relevant experience working in Brazil, where I undertook a lot of my research.

Lucy has already secured a role as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Edinburgh University in Landscape-Scale Ecology and Natural Capital Accounting.

SENSE would like to take this opportunity to thank our funder the Natural Environment Research Council, Lucy’s CASE partner institution Highlands Rewilding, SENSE wider community, and Lucy’s family and friends, for their invaluable support and input into Lucy’s PhD journey.

From all of us at SENSE – congratulations! Wishing you all the very best in your future career.

Congratulations to Philipp Barthelme who successfully defended his PhD thesis: “Impact of humanitarian mine clearances on tropical forest carbon storage”.

The panel of examiners was very impressed with Philipp’s dedication and enthusiasm for his research, and commended his constructive and comprehensive evaluation that demonstrates a deep understanding of the research topic.

A special thank you note goes out to Philipp’s supervisor, Dr Gary Watmough, Dr Eoghan Darbyshire, Prof Dom Spraklen and Prof Iain Woodhouse, and both examiners, Dr Catalina Munteanu and Prof Caroline Nichol.

During his time as a SENSE student, Philipp enjoyed his training programme, trips and networking opportunities that helped him to broaden his perspective and to connect with other SENSE students, in particular through an initiative of starting the ML4GEO group in Edinburgh. Philipp also praised the support received through his CASE partner. In his own words: “I had a great internship with my CASE partner, the Conflict and Environment Observatory. I think having and internship integrated in the PhD really provides useful information on how potential jobs after the PhD might look like and if they could be a good fit.”

Philipp has already secured a postdoctoral research post at Oregon State University on damage mapping in conflict settings.

SENSE would like to take this opportunity to thank our funder the Natural Environment Research Council, Philipp’s CASE partner institution CEOBS, SENSE wider community, and Phillip’s family and friends, for their invaluable support and input into Philipp’s PhD journey.

From all of us at SENSE – congratulations! Wishing you all the very best in your future career.

Last August I had the opportunity to join my supervisor Isla and her research team based in Canada for a fieldwork season in the Yukon. This trip allowed me to learn a great range of methods and field techniques that ecologists and biologists use for their research. I gained a lot of experience working with skilled scientists, and I had the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking landscapes and secluded study sites. I had the occasion to fly drones as part of conservation research which provides me with great experience for my future PhD work, and I learnt more about the organisation behind a field season in the Arctic. I am very thankful to SENSE for allowing this incredible fieldwork trip, it will remain an unforgettable memory!

Grégoire Canchon

SatSchool, the Earth Observation outreach initiative, has achieved international recognition after its educational materials were adopted by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) for the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Youth Hub. This global platform aims to inspire the next generation of climate scientists and Earth Observation experts.

Founded by SENSE PhD students, SatSchool develops free learning resources to teach school pupils about Earth Observation and its vital role in monitoring our planet. The inclusion of these materials on the CEOS Youth Hub places this student-led work on a global stage, making the resources accessible to a worldwide audience of young learners.

The collaboration began after Patrick Gibson, the Earth Observation Climate Lead at UKSA, saw a presentation by the SatSchool team at a SENSE event. Impressed by the quality of the outreach, UKSA initiated discussions to feature the materials as part of their CEOS chairmanship activities. In an email sharing the news, Beth Greenaway from the UK Space Agency celebrated the launch, noting that the students’ ‘work has real impact globally now!’

Leam Howe, current chair of the SatSchool team, commented on the achievement:

“We are absolutely thrilled to see the workshops and resources we’ve developed being shared on such a prestigious international platform. This journey started with an opportunity to present our work within the SENSE community, which directly led to this fantastic collaboration. It showcases the incredible value of student-led projects and the supportive environment within our training programme.”

This achievement underscores the quality and real-world impact of the work being done by SENSE students, demonstrating how their passion for outreach can lead to global opportunities.

Get Involved with SatSchool

Building on this momentum, the SatSchool team is looking for new members to join their mission. The upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 26th November 2025 (13:00 GMT, online) is the perfect opportunity to learn more. A variety of committee and member roles are available to suit all skill sets and schedules.

Students interested in joining can register for the AGM here.
To be kept in the loop and receive the quarterly newsletter, you can join the SatSchool mailing list.

Find Out More

The CEOS Youth Hub: https://ceos.org/youth/
SatSchool’s Website: https://satschool-outreach.github.io/

Earlier this September, SENSE students from the Universities of Edinburgh and the University of Leeds joined peers from the University of Venice for the latest ESA Science Hub Challenge, hosted at ESA’s ESRIN facility in Frascati, Italy.

Across four days, students explored cutting-edge Earth Observation science through expert talks, collaborative projects, and visits to ESA’s Φ-Lab. Working in teams, they tackled scientific challenges on topics ranging from aerosols and clouds to ocean monitoring, snow and ice, and glacier change — using ESA’s advanced data platforms to develop solutions in a short time frame.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for SENSE PhD students to network with European peers, gain direct insights from ESA scientists, and contribute to ongoing research efforts. Many of the projects will continue to evolve, with student outputs planned for publication on the ESA–NASA–JAXA Earth Observation Dashboard.

We are proud to see SENSE students taking part in this exciting initiative, showcasing the importance of collaboration and innovation in environmental data science.

Read more here: Science Hub Challenges: September 2025 – ESA Science Hub

Previous Science Challenges editions:

A week of collaboration and discovery at the Science Hub with University of Edinburgh and University of Leeds – ESA Science Hub

3rd Earth System Science Challenge – ESA Science Hub

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“The Channel Network Conference gathers mathematicians and statisticians to discuss latest methods for biometric applications. At the tenth iteration, around 100 participants gave talks, keynotes and short courses covering new approaches in Bayesian, machine learning and parametric methods for as many fields: e.g. medicine, farming, natural resources and ecology. The hosting University of Liege is definitely worth a visit as well. For my poster presentation on how forest structure is influencing the biomass-backscatter relationship, I was awarded the conference prize”.

– Lennart Hoheisel

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We would like to thank our funder the Natural Environment Research Council for supporting our student in his PhD journey.

It’s already been a week since ESA Living Planet Symposium 2025 and our Early Career Researcher (ECR) panel and networking event. With standing room only (barely!), the event brought together a packed crowd of enthusiastic Early Career Researchers working across Earth Observation and space science. The energy in the room was palpable, as ECRs connected with peers, gained insights into career pathways, and built new bridges across academia, industry, and government. It was fantastic to see so many bright minds in one space, sharing ideas and forging new collaborations.

Attendees participated in panel discussion and networking that highlighted diverse career pathways, funding opportunities, and practical advice on translating research into societal impact. The event also provided valuable space for peer-to-peer exchange and professional connections—supporting collaboration, visibility, and career development for the next generation of scientists.

Join our linkedin EO ECRs group!

🌟 Connect, network, and get inspired at the intersection of science and career journeys!

Early Career Scientist Careers & Networking Event 🗓️ Thu 27 June | ⏰ 11:30–13:00 | 📍 Room 0.14 Session B.03.10 – Hosted by ESA & UK Centre for Satellite Data

A unique chance for ECS working in climate, environment, and sustainability to connect across sectors. Expect fast-paced panel talks, career stories, open Q&A, and informal networking over free cake💬

Perfect for anyone exploring what a PhD in EO can lead to.

This week many of us at SENSE CDT are at the European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium 2025. SENSE CDT is turning heads at #LPS25! With over 30 PhD students hitting the stage and poster boards, they’re showing just how powerful satellite data and machine learning can be when it comes to tackling global challenges.

Expect everything from tracking Arctic heatwaves in 3D, to decoding the legacy of conflict on land use, to using Earth Observation for disaster response, biodiversity, agriculture, and beyond. You’ll also find the SENSE team leading education efforts through SatSchool, and connecting with the next generation at a dedicated Early Career Networking Event with ESA.

It’s a vibrant, multidisciplinary presence that reflects what SENSE does best—preparing tomorrow’s Earth Observation leaders to shape a smarter, more resilient planet. 🌍✨

Keep an eye on our socials to see what our excellent students and alumni are up to!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• BlueSky

Over the last few months SENSE, we’ve had two excellent PhD Researcher working with us to explore the future of SENSE training. Whilst we do not currently have funding for future cohorts of PhD students, there is still a need for specialist Earth Observation (EO) training to maintain and upskill our space sector workforce.

Emily Butler led on market research exploring what space sector companies training needs are and the practicalities of sending employees on courses. Leam Howe worked on the existing SENSE training materials and packaging sample modules focusing on EO fundamentals and machine learning methods with practical examples. They worked with us over three months as secondments from their PhDs to help us scope the potential for future expansion. We would like to thank than for their time and effort in supporting SENSE CDT. Their insights and contributions are greatly valued and have provided a strong foundation for shaping training that is relevant, impactful, and aligned with the evolving needs of our community.

If you’re interested in finding out more about potential SENSE CPD please email [email protected].