Date: 17—21 August 2026
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
OpenGeoHub Summer School is an annual event that has been running at various locations in Europe, Canada, and Australia since 2010.
Every year, we invite researchers and specialists who we think are especially active (and successful) in developing open source software and open data, and helping other researchers improve their analysis and modeling frameworks.
The 2026 edition is organized in collaboration with Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The Summer School consists of live presentations and demos by leading EO modelers and OSGeo developers, workshops, discussion panels, machine learning competition, and several social events.
Hackathons are organized under the EU-funded Open-Earth-Monitor project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101059548.
This Summer School is a not-for-profit event.
Hackathons
Apply now! After we close applications, a judging committee selects the best candidates. Only selected candidates will receive a registration link to confirm their spot.
Application Deadline: 3 MARCH 2026
Discover the initial lineup of lecturers for the Summer School. More to be announced soon!”
Melike Nikbay
Serkan Girgin
Esra Erten
Jakub Nowosad
Leandro Parente
Furkan Celik
Mustafa Serkan Isik
Maarten Pronk
Daniel Loos
Krzysztof Dyba
Giulio Genova
Yufeng Ho
We kindly invite PhD- and MSc-level students and postdocs in the fields of geospatial and environmental data, EO data, computer science, and computer vision. We also encourage researchers at universities and research institutes who work with EO data processing for environmental applications, as well as postdoctoral researchers interested in open-source geospatial tools and methods. Young scholars seeking hands-on training in programming languages such as Python, R, Julia, and similar languages are especially welcome.
Istanbul Technical University’s Ayazağa Campus is located on the European side of Istanbul and is conveniently accessible from Istanbul Airport (IST) by metro, airport shuttle buses, or taxi/ride-hailing. Typical travel times vary with traffic and time of day.
1) Metro (Subway) — Recommended for Predictability
A metro station (M11 metro line) is located at Istanbul Airport. Take the metro from the airport to Gayrettepe station. At Gayrettepe, transfer to the M2 metro line and continue to İTÜ–Ayazağa station, which serves the campus directly. This option is generally the most reliable because it is less affected by road traffic.
2) HAVAIST Airport Shuttle + Metro — Convenient and Direct
HAVAIST buses operate approximately every hour and typically take 40 minutes to 1 hour (depending on traffic) to reach 4. Levent. From 4. Levent metro station, take the metro to İTÜ–Ayazağa (approximately 10 minutes). This is a practical option if you prefer a dedicated airport shuttle before switching to rail.
3) Taxi / Uber — Most Direct (Traffic-Dependent)
Taxis and ride-hailing services (e.g., Uber) can take you directly from Istanbul Airport to ITU Ayazağa Campus. The journey usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, but it can be longer during peak traffic. The estimated cost is typically €40–€50, depending on traffic conditions and pricing at the time of travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Ticket Categories
We offer three types of registration fees:
- Full-time Student: Available for students who are not employed by a funding agency. A valid student ID or official proof of enrollment is required.
- Academic or Research Organization Staff: For individuals working in academic institutions or research organizations.
- Commercial Participant: Designed for professionals from the commercial sector who wish to participate.
Important: We will conduct cross-checks to verify that the selected fee is applicable. If incorrect information is provided, your registration may be cancelled.
The registration fee is charged on a cost-recovery basis and covers:
✔️ Lecturer fees
✔️ Venue costs
✔️ Meals during the event
🚫 It does not cover accommodation or travel expenses. Participants must arrange these separately.
To be eligible for the full-time student fee, you must:
✅ Be enrolled as a full-time student.
✅ Not be employed by a funding agency, university or private/public organization.
✅ Provide official proof, such as a student ID, proof of enrollment, tuition fee receipt and/or registration document.
📢 Note: We will verify student status. Any deliberate misrepresentation may result in losing your spot at the Summer School.
You can complete your registration fee payment through our secure online platform:
🔗 Pretix Registration Page (coming soon)
If payment is not received by May 23rd, 2026, your spot will be automatically given to someone on the waiting list.
Refunds are subject to our Cancellation Policy. Please review it before making your payment.
We recommend booking as early as possible. Please take a look at the suggested accommodation.
For general questions, please reach out to our Event, Communication, and Media Office at: events@opengeohub.org
Only coffee breaks and lunches are included. Breakfasts, dinners and any other side costs must be arranged by each student.
The academic program and lectures will end on the 21st of August. On Saturday, the 22nd of August, we will have a half-day excursion into nature. We suggest you stay until then to enjoy the full program we have prepared.
Please send an email to events@opengeohub.org. We will provide you with an invitation letter ONLY AFTER you have paid the registration fees.
IMPORTANT: Visa processing times often take a long time. We strongly recommend you start your visa application process as soon as possible and preferably, before May, at the latest.
We do not take responsibilty for rejected visa applications. Not obtaining your visa on time is not a valid reason for cancellation after the unconditional period of cancellation, so please consider that before taking any action.
Watch the video recordings of keynotes, workshops and oral presentations from the EO Summer School 2025.
EO Summer School 2025
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1:27:40
1:26:01
1:17:56
1:28:21
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23:04
21:40
1:21:01
42:34
25:24
1:20:57
56:15
1:34:58
1:09:10
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1:17:15
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38:37
1:25:09
1:12:25
56:03
1:20:21
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1:26:48
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28:27
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