11th Coimbra Space Summer School explores habitability in space and brings international participants to Coimbra
Space
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The 11th edition of the Coimbra Space Summer School (CSSS) took place over three intensive days of learning under the theme “Habitability in Space”. Held from 3 to 5 September at the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) and the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra (OGAUC), the event brought together around 40 participants from 12 different nationalities.
Among the participants were international students from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Planetary Geosciences — GeoPlaNet, organised by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), the University of Nantes (France) and the Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti/Pescara (Italy). They were joined by entrepreneurs, researchers and students from various Portuguese and European higher education institutions, who contributed diverse perspectives and experiences to the programme.
The 2025 edition was marked by its multidisciplinary environment, with participants from a wide range of fields working in eight teams to develop innovative business ideas responding to the challenges of space habitability.
The programme featured 10 keynote speakers and experts in the space sector, including Juan Nolasco (ESA), Hugo Costa (Portuguese Space Agency), Ana Pires (INESC TEC), Pedro Pina (University of Coimbra), Francesco Salese (Utrecht University), Nuno Peixinho and Ricardo Gafeira (OGAUC), Jorge Pimenta and Carla Duarte (IPN), and astrophotographer Miguel Claro, who closed the event. Throughout the sessions, these specialists explored topics such as medicine in zero gravity, space architecture and engineering, space resources, space weather, and the role of imagery in science communication.
On the final day, the teams presented their projects in pitch sessions before a jury composed of Joana Afonso (IPN), Nuno Peixinho (OGAUC) and João Fernandes (FCTUC).
The winning team was AQUANOVA, which addressed the challenge “Living on Mars”. Their solution proposed the use of microalgae for space-based agriculture and air regeneration, highlighting the potential of biotechnology to ensure habitability in hostile environments such as Mars.
An honourable mention was awarded to team PHANES, which tackled the challenge “Farming”. They developed the Spireactor, a modular and customisable Spirulina tube designed to support life on Mars and enable adaptable space farming.
The CSSS is a summer school aimed at higher education students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in exploring the space economy or developing business ideas that apply space technologies to terrestrial challenges. The event encourages participants to propose innovative products and services that integrate space-based assets to improve life on Earth.
This annual initiative, supported by a 14-member organising team, is coordinated by the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), in partnership with the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra (OGAUC) and the GeoPlaNet Master programme.
The 11th edition of the Coimbra Space Summer School (CSSS) took place over three intensive days of learning under the theme “Habitability in Space”. Held from 3 to 5 September at the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) and the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra (OGAUC), the event brought together around 40 participants from 12 different nationalities.
Among the participants were international students from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Planetary Geosciences — GeoPlaNet, organised by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), the University of Nantes (France) and the Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti/Pescara (Italy). They were joined by entrepreneurs, researchers and students from various Portuguese and European higher education institutions, who contributed diverse perspectives and experiences to the programme.
The 2025 edition was marked by its multidisciplinary environment, with participants from a wide range of fields working in eight teams to develop innovative business ideas responding to the challenges of space habitability.
The programme featured 10 keynote speakers and experts in the space sector, including Juan Nolasco (ESA), Hugo Costa (Portuguese Space Agency), Ana Pires (INESC TEC), Pedro Pina (University of Coimbra), Francesco Salese (Utrecht University), Nuno Peixinho and Ricardo Gafeira (OGAUC), Jorge Pimenta and Carla Duarte (IPN), and astrophotographer Miguel Claro, who closed the event. Throughout the sessions, these specialists explored topics such as medicine in zero gravity, space architecture and engineering, space resources, space weather, and the role of imagery in science communication.
On the final day, the teams presented their projects in pitch sessions before a jury composed of Joana Afonso (IPN), Nuno Peixinho (OGAUC) and João Fernandes (FCTUC).
The winning team was AQUANOVA, which addressed the challenge “Living on Mars”. Their solution proposed the use of microalgae for space-based agriculture and air regeneration, highlighting the potential of biotechnology to ensure habitability in hostile environments such as Mars.
An honourable mention was awarded to team PHANES, which tackled the challenge “Farming”. They developed the Spireactor, a modular and customisable Spirulina tube designed to support life on Mars and enable adaptable space farming.
The CSSS is a summer school aimed at higher education students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in exploring the space economy or developing business ideas that apply space technologies to terrestrial challenges. The event encourages participants to propose innovative products and services that integrate space-based assets to improve life on Earth.
This annual initiative, supported by a 14-member organising team, is coordinated by the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), in partnership with the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra (OGAUC) and the GeoPlaNet Master programme.
