Let’s Talk EU Space Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space

In the teaser episode for Season 2 of "Let's Talk EU Space," the podcast announces an expansion in its scope to cover the full range of components within the EU Space Programme and gives some examples of the different topics that will be covered.

Today's episode takes us out to sea, as we will dive deep into how Copernicus is transforming the realm of maritime law enforcement, helping coastal authorities to keep our oceans safe and secure. In fact, oceans and seas are the places where many different types of crime occur, including smuggling of contraband, piracy, and environmental pollution such as oil discharges. And if you think that over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water, regulating maritime activity can be a daunting task. Fortunately, law enforcement officials can rely on effective countermeasures to detect and identify unlawful activities. One example? Copernicus’ very powerful eyes on Earth. And we will explore this fascinating topic with our guest, Mr Leendert Bal who is Head of Department Safety, Security and Surveillance at EMSA.

Norway is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe. You may be familiar with the amazing landscapes of the region, either from having been there yourself or from enjoying them in pictures and videos. However, with rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns, these frozen giants are melting at an unprecedented rate. As you can imagine, this is having a huge impact on the local ecosystems and of course on people’s lives, so we really need to keep a close eye on it. But luckily enough, for this, we can rely on Copernicus and its eyes on Earth. Today with us is Dr. Liss marie Andreassen, Research Professor and Division for Glaciers & ice sheets at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate.

Today we’ll embark on a special journey to the frontier, where the impossible becomes possible and the unimaginable becomes reality. Which frontier am I talking about, you will wonder. It’s the frontier of space applications!In fact, thanks to its countless possible applications to our lives, space is no longer just the frontier of exploration, but also of entrepreneurship. Companies and start-ups are already using data from space initiatives such as Copernicus to come up with revolutionary ideas changing our life.

Today, we're diving deep into the hidden dangers lurking beneath the waves. We'll be exploring the world of microplastics in our seas and oceans and how Copernicus is playing a pivotal role in tracking these tiny yet significant threats. Did you know that the fish we enjoy eating might contain tiny particles of plastic? It's quite concerning because these microplastics are pervasive in the environment and pose a growing threat, both to our marine ecosystems and to our health. So, how could safe and clean marine-based food from aquaculture be ensured, then? That’s the big question we will discuss in this episode, and we will do that with an expert from the Mercator Ocean International, the organisation behind the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS).

We use them, we reply upon them and we definitely want them to be properly monitored and protected. I am speaking about dams and tunnels. Dams provide us with water and electricity, while tunnels are essential to streamline the transportation of people and goods. And today we have here with us Candela Sancho Garcia, CEO and Co-founder of Detektia, who is dedicating their life to supporting engineering and construction companies by providing early warnings…from space!