Young Graduate Trainee for Phi-Experience

The Φ Experience is a facility at ESA’s establishment ESRIN in Frascati, Italy.  It consists of a 220m2 exhibition room and is aimed at visitors.

The “Experience” uses interactive display technologies to increase awareness and visibility of ESA’s Earth observation programmes and applications. Through this, it is expected to improve visitors’ understanding of the benefits of Earth observation for monitoring global change. As many visitors are EO professionals, another aim is to motivate scientists, industry and ESA’s European and global partners to contribute to the displays in the Φ Experience with their data, information and experience.

ESA is also planning to demonstrate the relevance and value of Earth observation regarding environmental and socioeconomic benefits – for this the Φ Experience will target decision-makers and politicians as well as involving key communication players.

In the longer run, the Φ Experience will build up capacities and partnerships to develop new visualisation techniques for satellite-based and other geo data in order to help better understand, illustrate and explain the value of data gathered from space.

The Φ Experience was developed and built by a team of ESA experts at ESRIN with partners from Ars Electronica Solutions in Linz/Austria, Garamantis in Berlin and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website www.esa.int/eo

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

During the Traineeship, your role as YGT will consist in developing messages and material on linking Earth observation and global change in order to create narratives using Earth observation and other data.

With a view to obtaining narratives on global change to be used in the Φ Experience, presentations, (dedicated) websites (e.g. CCI) and contributions to climate communication narratives, and with support from and in close coordination with the ESA Φ Experience and visualisation team, you will:

• understand in depth the role of ESA, Earth observation and global/climate change.
• evaluate the possibilities to observe climate (and global) change with and without the help of satellite data
• develop messages, storyboards and storylines for communication on climate change in a global context
• identify, evaluate, process and integrate data sets based on EO data as well as other sources (in situ, non-space-based remote-sensing) into the phi-experience display stations for a climate story
• find competent partners and collect statements on the necessity of Earth observation from space for monitoring, evaluating and counteracting the effects of climate change
• look into unusual angles and disruptive ways of communicating the link between (global) climate change and space-based Earth observation – and develop a concept
• produce narratives based on the data mentioned above  .
• create narratives for climate change ‘storylines’ – producing text, images, graphics, illustrations, etc.
• aim narratives of ESA at climate sceptics
• develop a concept to visually contradict climate sceptics – implement the visuals and graphics to use this concept in practice; create graphics and illustrations to support a “Climate Change – The Hard Facts” narrative
• stress and highlight the essential necessity of Earth observation data in identifying and assessing the key variables which can be observed from space

You  should have just completed, or be in the final year of a university course at Master's level (or equivalent) in a technical or scientific discipline.

• Background in environmental science, journalism or Earth observation – or comparable experience
• High interest in story telling and communication and education with a scientific background or an environmental background
• Experience in EO data processing or graphical image processing is an asset (but not a must)

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

In addition, you should demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.

During the interview your motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.