Background
This International Workshop follows a series of events addressing remote sensing of vegetation fluorescence. With the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) – Sentinel-3 tandem mission close to being launched and fluorescence measurements becoming increasingly available from missions like OCO-2 and Sentinel-5 P and other platforms such as UAVs and ground-based instruments, the FLEX 2026 workshop will focus on latest developments in fluorescence remote sensing.
These include the technical bases for measuring solar-induced fluorescence, fluorescence retrievals from spectrally resolved data and atmospheric correction, dynamic changes of reflectance, as well as product validation using ground and airborne instrumentation. Secondly, we will address current and future applications of fluorescence such as understanding and predicting the dynamics of the carbon and water cycle, the use of fluorescence to detect and quantify vegetation stress and the application of fluorescence for coastal and inland waters. The interplay between fluorescence observations and modelling at different spatial and temporal scales as well as data assimilation aspects are an integral aspect along these thematic schemes.
The workshop will take place from 03 March 2026 to 06 March 2026 at the Electoral Palace, the Main Building of Bonn University, Germany and is open to all scientists and engineers interested in exploring the new observation capabilities and synergies provided by the FLEX and the Sentinel-3 mission, which is currently being prepared for launch in 2026.
Workshop Objectives
- Inform the community about recent and future activities for the upcoming launch of the FLEX mission
- Inform the community about the data products delivered by the FLEX mission, the latest developments on FLEX data processing, fluorescence and biophysical parameter retrievals and validation
- Review research linking fluorescence with the carbon and water cycles, agriculture, and forestry
- Provide updates on recent modelling activities coupling remote sensing signals and ecosystem processes
- Plan future activities related to fluorescence and merged data sets
- Bring together remote sensing communities focusing on aquatic and terrestrial systems, including data providers, experts and users
Workshop Main Themes
- FLEX mission: getting ready for launch!
- Data Products and validation strategies
- Understanding the Carbon and water cycles using fluorescence data
- Exploiting novel indicators for vegetation stress detection
- FLEX data for studying inland and coastal waters
- Recent advances in modelling activities (radiative transfer, biochemistry, structural-functional vegetation models…)
- Combining multi-scale, multi-mission EO data for closing the temporal and spatial gap
- Thinking beyond state-of-art: novel applications for FLEX data
Organising Committee
Clement Albergel
European Space Agency, ESA
Juliane Bendig
FZ Juelich
Mario Benincasa
Starion Group for European Space Agency, ESA
Ralf Bock
European Space Agency, ESA
Marco Celesti
European Space Agency, ESA
Diego Fernandez Prieto
European Space Agency, ESA
Timon Hummel
European Space Agency, ESA
Ireneusz Kleppert
FZ Juelich
Sabrina Lodadio
Serco for European Space Agency, ESA
Uwe Rascher
FZ Juelich
Dirk Schuettemeyer
European Space Agency, ESA
Marin Tudoroiu
European Space Agency, ESA
Jasmijn Willemse
ESA Conference Bureau, ATPI Events, NL
Scientific Committee
Coming soon!
Participation
The Workshop is open to all participants interested in the Flex Mission, including international representatives from Space Agencies, scientists and application experts active in the field of fluorescence data for terrestrial and coastal applications.
The Workshop sessions will include oral and poster presentations. The Workshop aims for a lively interactive workshop format, stimulating exchange between presenters and participants. Discussion is of utmost importance; therefore, a discussion round will be included in the Workshop.
Participation in the oral and poster programme will be decided by the Scientific and Programme Committee following the review of submitted abstracts.
The official language of the Workshop is English. No participation/registration fee will be charged. Participants are expected to finance their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Abstracts Submission
The Abstract submission interface is now open, and we invite you to submit your abstract HERE along with your
selection of the workshop themes and the type of presentation (oral or poster) proposed.
Note: Abstract length should be at least 200 words and a maximum of 500 words (one A4 page, single space normally contains 400-500 words).
Information about the co-authors (name, last name, affiliation, contact E-mail) is required
Schedule and Deadlines
| Call for abstracts | 1st December 2025 |
| Abstract submission deadline | 31st December 2025 |
| Notification of oral presentations and posters selection by the Programme Committee | 2nd February 2026 |
| Opening of registration | 2nd February |
| Registration Closure | End of February 2026 |
| Final information and programme | February 2026 |
| Workshop | 03-06 March 2026 |
Contact Info
For information regarding the submissions, author instructions, scientific committee programme and related inquiries, please contact👉EO4Society.Conf@esa.int
For information regarding the venue, please contact the German FLEX office👉info@flex-mission.eu. For support with logistics booking and registration, please contact 👉esaconferencebureau@atpi.com