ELLIS Summer School: AI for Earth System, Hazards & Climate Extremes
Athens (Greece), March 16-20, 2026
The 2026 ELLIS Winter School on “AI for Earth System, Hazards & Climate Extremes” brought together over 100 MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and Earth sciences. Over the course of an engaging week, participants explored the latest advances through keynote lectures, hands-on sessions, and collaborative project work—fostering a dynamic community of early-career researchers and sparking lasting collaborations across AI, Earth, and climate sciences. The program combined theoretical foundations with practical training and real-world applications. Participants engaged with cutting-edge AI methods to enhance the modelling, understanding, and impact assessment of extreme environmental events, effectively bridging fundamental research with operational and societal needs. The Winter School provided a unique opportunity for participants to deepen their expertise, collaborate across disciplines, and actively engage with a growing community shaping the future of AI for the Earth system.
The program featured 15 high-profile keynotes, including the ELLIS Unit Jena team members Markus Reichstein, Gustau Camps-Valls, and Alexander Brenning, as well as Zero-to-Hero methodology classes by Christian Reimers. Participants collaborated on 20 student research projects under the guidance of our team members/tutors Reda ElGhawi, Aishwarya Venkataramanan, Vitus Benson, and Alexander Winkler, leveraging high-performance computing for cutting-edge research. Beyond the academic sessions, a rich social program fostered a friendly and collaborative atmosphere.
We were also thrilled to strengthen our collaboration with Climate AI Nordics following insightful discussions with keynote Nico Lang and Natascha Malinka Isabella Jensen.
Additionally, our collaborations with the AI4PEX project and the MeDiTwin project (both EU-funded) will be strengthened and expanded in the coming months, opening new opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary innovation.
The Winter School not only showcased state-of-the-art research but also reinforced connections within the global AI and Earth Science community, leaving a lasting impact on all participants.
Event-Website: https://meditwin-project.eu/ai4eo-winter-school/
Stay tuned for the 3rd edition in 2027!
