'Protectors of the Earth' school competition seeks ideas for safeguarding our planet and climate
July 2, 2026 | Supporting young talent
'Protectors of the Earth' school competition seeks ideas for safeguarding our planet and climate
'Protectors of the Earth – Space for Change' school competition 2026
The ‘Protectors of the Earth – Space for Change’ school competition is now in its fourth round. The competition is seeking creative ideas to protect Earth and its climate. The winning classes can look forward to an exciting day at Klimahaus Bremerhaven, including a closing event and awards ceremony. Registration for the competition closes on 7 November 2026. The project work will take place nationwide from November 2026 to March 2027.
The competition for school classes in Years 6 to 8 is now in its fourth round.
The German Space Agency at DLR is looking for creative ideas to protect Earth and its climate.
Registration closes on 7 November 2026.
Focus: Space, supporting young talent
The 'Protectors of the Earth – Space for Change' school competition, organised by the German Space Agency at DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; German Aerospace Center) is now in its fourth round. The competition is seeking creative ideas for protecting Earth and its climate. As part of the competition, pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8 select a climate zone and investigate it using real Earth observation data.
The competition is ideally suited for classroom use, during project weeks or in extracurricular clubs, and can be applied across different subjects. The German Space Agency at DLR provides comprehensive supporting materials: digital e-learning modules as well as supplementary teaching resources with practical content. Teachers also have the opportunity to take part in training on using satellite imagery in the classroom. Pupils are offered a digital Q&A session to exchange ideas and get advice.
Ambassadors: ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and reserve astronaut Amelie Schoenenwald
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and ESA reserve astronaut Amelie Schoenenwald are the ambassadors for the competition. Both are inviting teachers and pupils to take part. In a video message, they talk about their experiences in spaceflight and explain how satellites and Earth observation from space help us understand climate zones and protect our planet.
An exciting day at Klimahaus Bremerhaven awaits the winning classes, including a closing event and awards ceremony. The registration deadline for the competition is 7 November 2026. The project work will take place nationwide from November 2026 to March 2027.
