The Climate Detectives 2018-2019 project edition features three phases

Phase 1 – Identify a climate problem (4 October 2018 - 15 November)

In this phase, students will be asked to identify a climate problem that they would like to investigate as ‘Climate Detectives’.  Students should define the problem based on questions that arise from their school studies and from observations in their local environment.  Students will have to plan their investigation of the problem, including data collection and, if applicable, data comparison from different sources.

Teams have until 15 November 2018 to identify a climate problem and submit their investigation plan online. In their investigation plan, the teams must:

• describe the local climate problem/issue they want to investigate (maximum 150 words);
• explain how they plan to investigate the identified climate problem and which data they plan to collect and analyse (maximum 250 words);
• propose minimum one and maximum three possible actions to help  reduce the identified climate problem (maximum 150 words).

Scientists in the field of Earth observation and climate will then review the investigation plans and give their feedback to all teams participating in the project. Teams will receive the feedback by 9 January. 

Phase 2 – Investigate the climate problem ( 10 January 2019 – 15 April 2019)

In this phase, students will collect, analyse and compare data to draw a conclusion about the problem they are investigating. The use of data is mandatory to enter the project. Such data can either be satellite or ground-based data retrieved from professional sources, or data obtained from measurements by the students, or a combination of them. 

During Phase 2, ESA or, where applicable, the national coordinator will organize online events in which teams can “meet a scientist” and receive background information and tips.

Phase 2 is also the phase where teams have the chance to apply for the LPS 2019 Climate Detectives School Award. Participation in this Award is optional. In order to apply  to the Award, teams will have to submit by 15 April 2019(end of Phase 2) the following:

1. A research report that summarises the work done, providing a full description of their Climate Detectives investigation (summary, data collected, analysis and first conclusions). A template for this report as well as the judging criteria will be published at the beginning of Climate Detectives’ Phase 2 the latest.

2.  A video (or other multimedia presentation) of maximum 3 minutes to introduce the team and their Climate Detectives project. 

For more information on the Award click here. 

Phase 3 – Make a difference (16 April 2019 – 17 May 2019)

We can all make a difference! Based on the results of their investigations, students should decide on the actions they want to take - as individuals and as citizens – to help reduce the problem.

Teams should record and provide evidence of their actions, and will have to share them with the ESA Climate Detectives community.  In due time, ESA will provide information on how teams can share their results.

At the end of Phase 3, ESA will host a final online event for participating teams. Scientists will point out relations between the ESA Climate Detectives projects to the climate research being conducted at ESA.