12 January 2010. Two studies, which have been commissioned by ESA's Earth Observation Directorate at ESRIN and by the European Science Foundation respectively were kicked off in meetings in Frascati and Strasbourg the past two days.

On 11 January a study on Russia's Earth Observation activities was launched. Commissioned by ESA's Earth Observation Directorate located at the European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) in Frascati, the study will be conducted by ESPI Resident Fellow Jana Robinson with the support of ESPI Associate Fellow Christophe Venet. The study is supervised by Simonetta Cheli, Head of the Coordination Office in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes of ESA.

Kick off at ESRIN with (from left): Christophe Venet, Jana Robinson,
Simonetta Cheli, Bianca Hoersch and Kai-Uwe Schrogl

"Forward Look on Technological Breakthroughs for Scientific Progress (TechBreak)" is the title of the study, kicked off on 12 January at the European Science Foundation (ESF) in Strasbourg. This study is a preparatory activity for the conduct of a ESF Forward Look on this subject. Supervised by ESF's Head of Space Sciences Unit Jean-Claude Worms, this study is lead by ESPI Resident Fellow Christina Giannopapa.

Kick off at ESF with (from left): Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Jean-Claude Worms,
Christina Giannopapa and Olivier White

The commissioning of these two studies to ESPI demonstrates the progress the Institute made in establishing itself as a valuable partner for assessing international space activities and providing innovative perspectives on policy issues associated with science and technology development. Both ESPI study leaders and their support will be able to take advantage of their fields of expertise and build on the Institute's experience and standing acquired over the past years.

photo credit: ESPI