ELLIS Summer School: AI for Earth and Climate Sciences
Jena (Germany), September 1–5, 2025
The 2025 ELLIS Summer School on AI for Earth & Climate Sciences is the premier event for PhD students, MSc students, and postdocs at the intersection of machine learning and geoscience to meet in person. During the week filled with keynotes, hands-on classes and project work the school will focus on cutting-edge research and discuss the latest advancements in the field. This interdisciplinary program will shape the future for the community of AI, Earth and Climate scientists by fostering collaboration among the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers.
HIGHLIGHTS
o High-profile Keynotes from top-level scientists
o Zero-to-Hero classes on key methodologies
o Poster sessions facilitating discussion
o Student research projects on high performance computing
o Fun social activities 😃
LOCATION AND PARTNER
The ELLIS summer school takes place in Jena (Germany) and is co-organised by the Jena ELLIS Unit and the National Technical University of Athens in collaboration with Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Michael Stifel Center Jena and the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Due to the great interest, it seems very likely that there won't be another application round. However, if the situation changes, we will be sure to communicate it here.
PARTICIPATION FEE
400€ – first application round
450€ – second application round
included: attendance, lunch, coffee breaks, social events
not included: travel, accommodation
TIMELINE
February, 3: Applications open
March, 31: Early application round closes
April, 30: Selected Applicants for the early round are notified
May, 2: Given the strong interest, we have decided there will not be another round of applications.
September, 1-5: Summer School
FAQ
I am not an ELLIS PhD student, can I still apply?
Yes, absolutely! The ELLIS Summer school is open to everyone. However, if applications greatly exceed available places, we will prioritize those affiliated with the ELLIS network.
Are there any prerequisites for attending the summer school?
The ELLIS summer school is intended for a wide range of students, with diverse backgrounds. As long as you are interested in the topic AI for Earth and Climate Science, you will benefit from this school. That said, prior knowledge in geoscience or machine learning is definitely beneficial and will allow you to get even more out of the summer school.
Do you provide a certificate of attendance?
Yes, attendants will receive a certificate, confirming their participation in the summer school and their contribution to the poster sessions. Winning teams of the student research projects will in addition be awarded a best-project-award.
How does the selection process work?
In the case that application numbers greatly exceed available places, an application committee will select participants based on criteria including affiliation with ELLIS network, scientific merit, scientific motivation and diversity within participant group.
Will there be a second round of applications?
Only if not all spots have been filled in the first application round (deadline before March 31), we will open applications again and admit participants on a rolling basis. Thus, we strongly recommend you to apply in the first application round!
Do you offer any support for childcare during the Summer School?
Yes, we are organizing childcare for interested participants. You will receive further information on that after the successful confirmation of your participation.
ZERO-TO-HERO INSTRUCTORS
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
During the Summer School, students will have the exciting opportunity to collaborate on group projects, with a maximum group size of 5-6 people. The projects will intend to utilize high performance computing resources to train and evaluate latest machine learning approaches on challenging data sets from the Earth and Climate Sciences.
The idea behind the projects is highly challenging: students are tasked with proposing and implementing modifications to known algorithms and solutions on a provided dataset in collaboration with their challenge leader. The top three projects selected by a jury will be awarded with the best-project-award, accompanied by a formal certificate and recognition from the ELLIS summer school.
Projects will come from one of four areas:
A) Hybrid Modeling
B) Robustness (incl. uncertainty, cross-validation, probabilistic modeling)
C) Interpretability
D) Large-scale deep learning
VENUE
The ELLIS Summer School will take place in the beautiful Rose Halls (Rosensäle) and the State Library (Thüringer Landesbibliothek, ThULB), located directly in the city center of Jena, next to the second oldest Botanical Gardens of Germany. Just a few minutes‘ walk from main accommodations, it provides a convenient and inspiring venue for all participants.
ACCOMMODATION
We have pre-booked an entire guest house with 70 rooms for the first participants, each room offering a double bed and a private bathroom. At €69 per night, this is a great opportunity to enjoy comfortable accommodation close to the ELLIS Summer School venue. Further accommodation options will be provided in the welcome package for the accepted participants.
ABOUT JENA
Located in the heart of Germany, Jena is renowned not only for its rich scientific heritage but also for its vibrant academic community. As the home of the esteemed Friedrich Schiller University, founded in 1558, the city boasts a legacy of over four centuries of academic excellence. With its focus on cutting-edge research and innovation, Jena has long been a center of learning, particularly in the fields of optics, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. Alongside the university, the city is home to a wide range of research institutions and think tanks, creating a dynamic ecosystem that fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
Jena’s scientific influence is mirrored by its picturesque setting and historic charm. The city itself is an architectural blend of medieval and modern structures, with its Old Town offering a charming glimpse into centuries of history. As one of Germany’s greenest cities, Jena is surrounded by forests, hills, and nature reserves, making it an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. Scenic hikes in the surrounding Saale Valley and the famous Thuringian Forest provide ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation.
The city also boasts a rich cultural scene, with museums, galleries, and theaters showcasing the creativity and talent of its residents. Whether attending a performance at one of Jena’s theaters or enjoying local music festivals, the city offers an enriching cultural experience alongside its academic and natural attractions. In Jena, intellectual stimulation seamlessly merges with natural beauty and cultural vibrancy, making it a truly unique place to live, work, and study.
HOW TO REACH JENA
Jena is centrally located in Germany, making it easily accessible from various locations across the country. You can fly into Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ), Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), or Munich Airport (MUC), all of which are about 1.5 to 4 hours away by train. From any of these airports, frequently train connections to Jena are available. The train stations (Jena West and Jena Paradies) are just a 15-minute walk to the venue and accommodations, or even faster with the local bus and tram.
ORGANIZATION
The ELLIS Summer School on AI for Earth and Climate Sciences is organized by the Jena ELLIS Unit.
STEERING COMMITTEE
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Moien Rangzan
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
First round of applications from February 3 to March 31, 2025
Due to the great interest, it seems very likely that there won't be another application round. However, if the situation changes, we will be sure to communicate it here.
GETTING IN TOUCH
Conrad Philipp via conrad.philipp@uni-jena.de
