The Space Symposium attracts thousands of representatives of the space industry, governments, militaries, research agencies and more. The event brings all these groups together in one place to provide an opportunity to examine space issues from multiple perspectives, to promote dialog and to focus attention on critical space issues.
This year, the Space Symposium will be a hybrid in-person/virtual event, with the in-person sessions taking place in Boulder, Colorado, along with a vast exhibition display space which, this year, has been increased by 8,300 square metres.
During GEO Week 2021, the Group on Earth Observations will present the multidisciplinary activities of the GEO Work Programme that address policy agendas involved in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
The online event will include the GEO-17 plenary, plus anchor and side events. Time will be scheduled each day for virtual networking. On Monday, November 22, the 56th Executive Committee will be held as a closed meeting.
Of particular importance will be the anchor events: These are the main events designed by GEO week 2021 organisers to explain the multidisciplinary nature of GEO through the concept of nexus thinking. Working on multiple topics simultaneously is essential in today’s rapidly changing environmental and social conditions. For example, work in one area will have a knock-on effect or impact in another area, such as the water, energy and food nexus. These events are linked to the global policy agendas that underpin most of GEO’s work.
Image credit: NASA