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SPACE::LAB summer school 2026
Event by: SPACE :: LAB
Location: ARTSPACE, Južná trieda 48, Košice
Tickets: Get tickets
Topics: Tech & AI
About event
You can learn more in three days than in a whole month. During the summer you need to rest, but if you also come to summer school, you can expand your understanding of the universe in a very short and intense time. High-quality lectures, hands-on sessions and fun with people who are interested in exactly the same things as you are waiting for you.
Date: 24. - 26. 8. 2026
Location: SPACE::LAB - Bulharská 4, 040 01 Košice
Topic: Towards Satellite Intelligence
Space research today is running into the limits of transmission capacities at huge volume of acquired data. The future therefore belongs to the concept of Edge Computing - the deployment of artificial intelligence directly on board satellites. This year's summer school "Towards Satellite Intelligence" is intended for students and young workers who want to connect space research, advanced engineering and applied machine learning. During the summer school, we will go through three interconnected domains together:
Scientific: How does the modern scientific process take place, from planning measurements to the interpretation of physical phenomena? We will show why satellite data is only a raw basis and why human cognitive capacity and critical thinking are irreplaceable in the search for new laws.
Satellite: What subsystems does modern space technology consist of and how is it developed, tested and integrated? We will discuss the hardware, radiation, and energy limits of orbital platforms that have so far prevented the mass deployment of autonomous onboard systems.
AI: What are the technical requirements for running AI models and neural networks in an environment with limited computing power? We will focus on modern programming approaches and code optimization techniques for specialized space hardware.
If you are interested in learning more about the path towards on-board data processing and connecting rigorous science with modern software engineering, this summer school will provide you with a theoretical foundation and an overview of current trends.
Program
The summer school starts on Monday, 8/24/2026, at 8:30 at Bulharska 4, in Košice and ends on Wednesday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. Each day, a program is prepared for the participants including the following topics:
Monday
- What is intelligence in science?
- Everything you need to know about satellites
- Excursion to the first space cleanroom in Slovakia
Tuesday
- What should be processed on Earth and what in orbit
- How to optimize your Python code
- Deployment of the ML model on FPGA
Wednesday
- Panel discussion - how to embark on the journey "Towards Satellite Intelligence" in Slovakia
- Teams challenge
- Final presentations
Criteria for applicants
Serious interest in space research and IT technology
Knowledge of the English language - text of presentations and resources for self-study will be in AJ
Knowledge of an object-oriented programming language - at the user level for at least 3 years - during the language of the summer school will be Python
Opportunity to participate in the summer school with your own laptop
Registration
Registration is required by 31/07/2026 by sending an e-mail to: [email protected], where you state that you meet the required criteria, write a short motivation why you want to participate in the summer school, and also give your consent to the processing of your data for the purposes of the summer school. Registration for the summer school is mandatory. The total number of free places is 16, so don't delay your registration. The selected participants will then be informed about their admission to the summer school.
Prize
The summer school program is thanks to the support from the Institute of Experimental Physics SAS v. v. i. for free. However, the participants will provide travel, accommodation and food according to their own needs at their own expense.
Lecturers
-> Roman Nagy, Astrophysicist, MatFyz / Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, UK Bratislava
-> Damián Fečko, Space Engineer, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice
-> Silvia Kostárová, PhD student, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice
-> Adam Majirský, Data Scientist, VSE, Košice
-> Erik Kandalík, Data Scientist & Full-stack developer, freelancer, Košice
-> Stanislav Hrivňak, Senior data scientist, freelancer, Košice
-> Vierka Krešňáková, Deep Learning Specialist, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, FEI, TUKE, Košice
-> Šimon Mackovjak, Space scientist, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice
Date: 24. - 26. 8. 2026
Location: SPACE::LAB - Bulharská 4, 040 01 Košice
Topic: Towards Satellite Intelligence
Space research today is running into the limits of transmission capacities at huge volume of acquired data. The future therefore belongs to the concept of Edge Computing - the deployment of artificial intelligence directly on board satellites. This year's summer school "Towards Satellite Intelligence" is intended for students and young workers who want to connect space research, advanced engineering and applied machine learning. During the summer school, we will go through three interconnected domains together:
Scientific: How does the modern scientific process take place, from planning measurements to the interpretation of physical phenomena? We will show why satellite data is only a raw basis and why human cognitive capacity and critical thinking are irreplaceable in the search for new laws.
Satellite: What subsystems does modern space technology consist of and how is it developed, tested and integrated? We will discuss the hardware, radiation, and energy limits of orbital platforms that have so far prevented the mass deployment of autonomous onboard systems.
AI: What are the technical requirements for running AI models and neural networks in an environment with limited computing power? We will focus on modern programming approaches and code optimization techniques for specialized space hardware.
If you are interested in learning more about the path towards on-board data processing and connecting rigorous science with modern software engineering, this summer school will provide you with a theoretical foundation and an overview of current trends.
Program
The summer school starts on Monday, 8/24/2026, at 8:30 at Bulharska 4, in Košice and ends on Wednesday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. Each day, a program is prepared for the participants including the following topics:
Monday
- What is intelligence in science?
- Everything you need to know about satellites
- Excursion to the first space cleanroom in Slovakia
Tuesday
- What should be processed on Earth and what in orbit
- How to optimize your Python code
- Deployment of the ML model on FPGA
Wednesday
- Panel discussion - how to embark on the journey "Towards Satellite Intelligence" in Slovakia
- Teams challenge
- Final presentations
Criteria for applicants
Serious interest in space research and IT technology
Knowledge of the English language - text of presentations and resources for self-study will be in AJ
Knowledge of an object-oriented programming language - at the user level for at least 3 years - during the language of the summer school will be Python
Opportunity to participate in the summer school with your own laptop
Registration
Registration is required by 31/07/2026 by sending an e-mail to: [email protected], where you state that you meet the required criteria, write a short motivation why you want to participate in the summer school, and also give your consent to the processing of your data for the purposes of the summer school. Registration for the summer school is mandatory. The total number of free places is 16, so don't delay your registration. The selected participants will then be informed about their admission to the summer school.
Prize
The summer school program is thanks to the support from the Institute of Experimental Physics SAS v. v. i. for free. However, the participants will provide travel, accommodation and food according to their own needs at their own expense.
Lecturers
-> Roman Nagy, Astrophysicist, MatFyz / Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, UK Bratislava
-> Damián Fečko, Space Engineer, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice
-> Silvia Kostárová, PhD student, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice
-> Adam Majirský, Data Scientist, VSE, Košice
-> Erik Kandalík, Data Scientist & Full-stack developer, freelancer, Košice
-> Stanislav Hrivňak, Senior data scientist, freelancer, Košice
-> Vierka Krešňáková, Deep Learning Specialist, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, FEI, TUKE, Košice
-> Šimon Mackovjak, Space scientist, SPACE::LAB / Dep. of Space Physics, IEP SAS, Košice