Monday, June 16th
CSRS 2025 opened with a full day of professional development workshops held at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge. Participants took part in sessions focused on proposal writing strategies, the use of Google Earth Engine for remote sensing applications, and combining deep learning with editing tools for 3D individual tree analysis.
The day concluded with the Icebreaker reception at the Galt Museum & Archives, where attendees enjoyed free access to the museum’s exhibits and collections. The evening also featured a captivating hoop dance performance by Jerrhan (Kaatoyis/Jerrhan First Charger), a cultural highlight that warmly welcomed everyone to Lethbridge, and a heartwarming visit from Friendly, the beloved St. John Ambulance therapy dog, who quickly became everyone’s favourite guest.
Tuesday, June 17th
Tuesday began with an official welcome and opening remarks, followed by two powerful keynote talks: Dr. Leroy Little Bear, who brought a deeply thoughtful Indigenous perspective on science and worldview, and Isabelle Tremblay, who highlighted Canada’s role in space-based remote sensing.
The morning continued with the Pilot Mentorship Panel, an inspiring discussion on building pathways and support systems for early-career professionals in remote sensing.
In the afternoon, attendees joined parallel technical sessions covering topics such as snowpack monitoring, agriculture, ecosystem mapping, and human disturbance detection, offering a rich variety of research across disciplines and landscapes.
Later in the day, the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, organized by IEEE GRSS, challenged students to explain their research to a non-specialist audience using just one slide and three minutes.
The evening wrapped up with Poster Session 1, where the Aspen Ballroom came alive with lively exchanges between students, researchers, and professionals, sharing insights on everything from forest fire modelling and hyperspectral tree health monitoring to wetland mapping and crop forecasting.
Wednesday, June 18th
Wednesday opened with a keynote by Dr. Catherine Champagne, followed by a panel on agricultural technology where experts discussed advancements in precision agriculture and remote sensing applications. The industry discussion session that followed sparked valuable dialogue between academic researchers and professionals from the private and public sectors.
In the afternoon, attendees split across multiple thematic tracks covering crop growth and soil moisture, urban digital twins, wildfire risk, natural resources, forestry, radar, water systems, and human disturbance mapping, reflecting the symposium’s interdisciplinary reach.
The day continued with Poster Session 2, where students and researchers presented work ranging from wildfire recovery and hyperspectral weed detection to satellite-based water monitoring and machine learning for biodiversity analysis.
The evening concluded with the CRSS-SCT Awards Ceremony and Banquet, where the community came together to honour outstanding contributions, celebrate achievements, and enjoy a festive dinner among colleagues and friends.
