Unlocking Earth Observation for Sustainability – Learning, Innovation & Action for the East of England

Space Ea  is the Space cluster for the 6 counties of the East of England, a regional that is ideally placed to reap the benefits of Earth Observation (EO) satellite technology due to a combination of geographical, environmental, economic, and institutional factors. As such, Space East has been undertaking projects with partners across agri, marine and energy sector to promote awareness of EO and to identify stakeholders, use cases and opportunities for action. Sustainability is the theme that underpins the challenges in these adjacent sectors and despite our work, there is still a lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities of adoption across the region.

We seek to address this through a dynamic, cross-sector event:
Unlocking Earth Observation for Sustainability – Learning, Innovation & Action for the East of England

This one-day event will introduce participants to the fundamentals of Earth Observation satellite technology and explore its real-world applications across agriculture, marine science, energy, climate, and land management. Hosted at the University of East Anglia (UEA)—a hub for environmental science and innovation—the event will empower individuals, businesses, and public sector bodies to better understand and access EO tools that support sustainability, productivity, and resilience.

Event Purpose

This event aims to:

• Demystify EO technology for new users
• Demonstrate real-world applications in sectors that matter to the region
• Enable informed adoption of EO data and services
• Connect diverse stakeholders for collaboration, innovation, and future growth

This event features a range of expert speakers from across the private, public and academic sectors from organisations including Airbus, Satellite Applications Catapult, CEFAS, Fenland Soil, ESA, Orbis Energy, Lampata and Space4Climate

Click here for the Agenda

Whether you are a business leader, land manager, researcher, student, policymaker, or tech innovator, this event is designed to meet you where you are in your EO journey.

Why Earth Observation, Why Now?

Earth Observation satellites provide invaluable insights on:

• Land use and agricultural health
• Coastal and marine ecosystems
• Infrastructure, energy assets, and offshore wind
• Climate change, carbon, and environmental risk

For the East of England, these capabilities are especially important in tackling:

• Coastal erosion and flood management
• Agricultural efficiency and environmental compliance
• Marine habitat conservation and sustainable fisheries
• Planning and monitoring renewable energy infrastructure

Yet EO remains underused in the region due to lack of awareness, skills, and access. This event aims to change that.

Who Should Attend?

• Business leaders (agri-tech, offshore, energy, consultancy, infrastructure)
• Public sector organisations (local councils, environmental teams, planners)
• Researchers and academics
• Students and early career professionals
• NGOs, community groups, and educators

No prior experience with satellite data is required. This event is for both learners and leaders.

Event Objectives

1. Explain what EO is in accessible, engaging ways
2. Highlight regional success stories and real-world examples
3. Explore sector opportunities across land, sea, and infrastructure
4. Show how to get started with EO data, tools, and support
5. Spark collaboration across disciplines and industries

This event is part of the UK-EONS project.

To find out more see the agenda in the file linked below:

EO Conference Agenda