On 2 October 2025, Dr. John Friesen and Dr. Julian Fäth from the Earth Observation Research Cluster (EORC) at the University of Würzburg and staff members of EO4CAM took part in the symposium “Vom Orbit zur Entscheidung: Satellitenfernerkundung in der Landesumweltverwaltung” in Darmstadt. The event was hosted by the Hessisches Landesamt für Naturschutz, Umwelt und Geologie (HLNUG) together with the Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg (LUBW) and supported by EUMETSAT, bringing researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers together to discuss the role of Earth observation in environmental administration.

One agenda item was the talk by Dr. John Friesen, who presented on “Maschinelles Lernen in der Fernerkundung: Fortschritt mit Nebenwirkungen”. He illustrated how machine learning opens new opportunities for analyzing satellite data while also raising questions about the tension between model complexity and accuracy and the application of machine learning in official decision-making processes. In this context the project EO4CAM was also pitched, as it fits perfectly with the symposium’s focus — aiming to support, at least for now, Bavarian authorities with Earth observation data for climate change adaptation.

Events like this symposium provide an important platform to connect research, administration, and policy. By fostering exchange, they pave the way for informed decision-making in the face of climate challenges.