Student & Young Professionals
Make the Most
of ISPRS 2026!
Empowering the Next Generation of Geospatial Leaders
At ISPRS 2026, students and early-career professionals are at the heart of the congress community. A dedicated program of activities will provide opportunities to learn, connect, and grow—both academically and professionally.
The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Student Consortium, also known as the ISPRS SC, was established in 2004 during the XX ISPRS Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. ISPRS SC is the official representation of the students and the youth to ISPRS.
Highlights include:
-
Engaging with peers from around the world
-
Exchanging fresh ideas and perspectives
-
Building lasting connections with mentors and experts
-
Presenting research and gaining valuable feedback
-
Accessing career guidance and professional development opportunities
-
Expanding your international network in a supportive environment
Youth Forum at ISPRS 2026
ISPRS SC will organize the Youth Forum, a collection of several activities taking place over three days. The Youth Forum is dedicated to graduate and postgraduate students, and young researchers and professionals. These sessions are designed to encourage young people to learn more about ISPRS and ISPRS SC and are great opportunities to share scientific work and broaden professional networks.
The activities will include:
Technical Sessions:
These sessions will encompass both oral and interactive presentations from young professionals
in the industry.
Networking Sessions
Helping young professionals to meet and connect with industry experts and academics from around the world.
Social Activities
A range of activities curated to encourage students and young professionals to build strong connections with future ISPRS leaders.
ISPRS SC Summer School
This five-day summer school will be organised as the pre-Congress event. The first three days will include lectures and hands-on sessions, whereas the rest two days will be focused on group activities leading to the ideathon contest on the last day. The winning team will get the opportunity to present its idea at one of the plenary sessions during the Congress.
IEEE GRSS IDEA Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
The IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) IDEA Committee is excited to announce the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition at the ISPRS Congress 2026 in Toronto, Canada.
Following three successful editions of the 3MT® competition organized at the Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing (CSRS) — held in Yellowknife (2023), Halifax (2024), and Lethbridge (2025) — IEEE GRSS IDEA proudly brings this dynamic and inspiring competition to ISPRS 2026 in Toronto. More information about previous competitions is available on the official IEEE GRSS website https://bit.ly/3Q6x8sK.
About IEEE GRSS IDEA
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed in 2008 by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. In this competition, research students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance.
3MT® is not an exercise in trivializing research, but rather challenges students to consolidate their ideas and discoveries and present them concisely to a non-specialist audience within a strict three-minute timeframe, ensuring that anyone can easily grasp the essence of a student’s Master’s or PhD research. The competition also helps participants develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
Awards
Winners will receive the following prizes (USD)
1st Place
$250
2nd Place
$150
3rd Place
$100
People's Choice Award
Special non-monetary prize
All winners will receive official IEEE 3MT® certificates recognizing their achievement.
Who Can
Participate?
• Open to all Master’s and PhD students
• Participants must be attending ISPRS 2026 in person
• Registration is limited and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
About IEEE
GRSS IDEA
The IEEE GRSS Inspire, Develop, Empower, and Advance (IDEA) Program is dedicated to fostering professional growth within the geoscience and remote sensing community. Through global initiatives, IDEA:
-
Supports students and early-career researchers
-
Promotes equitable opportunities across regions and backgrounds Pro
-
Encourages excellence in research and innovation
-
Inspires the next generation of scientists and engineers n
The IDEA Committee actively organizes activities at conferences worldwide, creating platforms—such as the 3MT® competition—for students to showcase their work, gain visibility, and connect with the international community
Rules and Judging Criteria
Please review the full competition guidelines and evaluation criteria here.
Contact
For questions or additional information please contact grss-idea@ieee.org