From Observation to Climate Action and Sustainability for Earth
In June 2025, Vienna became the center of international Earth observation. The Living Planet Symposium of the European Space Agency brought together experts, researchers, and interested people to discuss current developments and sustainable perspectives for our planet. Ars Electronica Solutions and ESERO Austria created a diverse program that combined knowledge, technology, and creativity, inspiring both professionals and the general public.
Opening of the Living Planet Symposium
With a festive Opening Ceremony at the Austria Center Vienna, the Living Planet Symposium 2025 — the European Space Agency’s largest Earth observation conference — officially began on June 23 and ran until June 27.
To mark the occasion, Ars Electronica Solutions presented a poetic and powerful performance that merged science, art and technology. The work was conceived in celebration of the anniversary of the Sentinel-2 mission, which provided the satellite image of Vienna at the heart of the performance.
On stage, a dancer embodied the satellite itself. Her movement through space attracted and activated the data—transforming a static dataset into a living sound journey over Vienna, as if from the satellite’s perspective. X and Y coordinates became a flowing sonic surface, accompanied live by a composer on piano.
The performance opened up a new, poetic view of Earth observation and posed a compelling question: What does a satellite hear?
It was a powerful example of how data can tell stories—across disciplines, across senses.
Throughout the following conference days, Ars Electronica Solutions continued to contribute actively, particularly in the field of knowledge transfer for young audiences.
School Activities
From June 23 to 25, Hall X4 at the Austria Center Vienna was transformed into a learning and experience space for up to 2,500 students aged nine and older. Under the title School Activities, ESERO Austria and Ars Electronica Solutions jointly offered workshops on Earth observation, organized guided tours through the exhibition areas, and hosted stage shows with space experts.
The young participants worked directly with satellite data, tested air measurement devices, analyzed water samples, and programmed an autonomous robot similar to those used on Mars.
In the exhibition area of the School Activities, the so-called Science Fair, young people could explore various stations at their own pace, including three interactive installations by Ars Electronica Solutions.
These included Space Careers, which showcased diverse professions in the space sector; Dynamic Earth, an interactive world tour through satellite imagery with an integrated quiz; and the Earth Observation Table, which made it possible to explore environmental data such as air quality, volcanoes, or forests in a playful way. Together, they offered exciting opportunities to discover science hands-on and to experience global connections interactively.
Space in the City
Parallel to the symposium, the free Space in the City festival took place at Vienna’s Karlsplatz from June 24 to 26. This public program addressed questions of sustainability and demonstrated how satellite data can help make cities more livable.
Jointly organized by the Vienna Geospace Hub, the ESA, and Ars Electronica Solutions, the festival offered the public several stations: the Mobile Globe with the Earth from Space application, a ground projection featuring satellite images of Vienna, and an artistic sound installation that made Earth observation a sensory experience.
The program was rounded off by talks and panel discussions, including the stage conversation Art [Space], which focused on the history of the Earth and also involved participation by Ars Electronica Solutions.
Project Credits
Team
David Holzweber, Yvonne Metnitzer, Harald Moser, MyTrinh Müller-Gardiner, Patrick Müller, Isabel Schölmbauer, Roland Stampfer, Markus Wipplinger
Extern
Ars Electronica Center, Anytime Architekten, ESERO Austria, Garamantis, Ton&Bild, VSVL
