Participation in the GESIS International Expert Workshop on Earth Observation Data in the Social Sciences

8 December 2025

Participation in the GESIS International Expert Workshop on Earth Observation Data in the Social Sciences (26 to 28 November 2025, Cologne) offered an excellent opportunity to engage with researchers working at the intersection of remote sensing, social science, and data-intensive methods. The event brought together scholars from diverse backgrounds to explore how Earth observation (EO) data can enhance the study of climate adaptation, environmental change, conflict dynamics, and policy processes, while also addressing the methodological, legal, and ethical challenges associated with these emerging data sources.

The workshop featured keynote lectures by Prof. Dr. Hannes Taubenböck and Prof. Dr. Monika Kuffer, both of whom highlighted the growing importance of linking EO with social-science perspectives to better understand human behavior, vulnerability, and governance in a rapidly changing world. Across six thematic panels, participants presented innovative research on topics such as conflict damage assessment, air-pollution monitoring, agricultural resilience, urban cohesion, and new methodological approaches for integrating EO into causal inference and longitudinal social research.

As part of the Conflict panel, Clara Clipea presented work on testing an Earth Observation foundation model, Terramind, in the conflict-damage setting. The discussion provided valuable insights from experts and fostered exchange on best practices, limitations, and future opportunities in this field. Overall, the workshop created a dynamic environment for interdisciplinary collaboration and showcased the expanding role of Earth observation in social science research.