Message from the Past President

It has now been six years since I was elected President of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE). Mine has been the longest presidency in the Society’s history—a record that will remain unique, as the exemption for a third term was only granted under the extraordinary circumstances of 2020, when COVID-19 reshaped our world.

When I began my presidency, I could never have imagined that our planet would face the dual threats of a devastating pandemic and the resurgence of wars after years of relative peace. These global challenges underscored the urgency of the Digital Earth vision.

In 2023, together with colleagues, I co-authored Digital Earth: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, offering a renewed definition of Digital Earth as:

“a common platform to support national and international cooperation for global sustainable development and disaster resilience, as well as an important mechanism to enable economic growth, social welfare, and environmental stewardship. Digital Earth should be seen by every child as a gateway to learning and exploring our world.”

We stressed that the true impact of Digital Earth must be measured by how improved knowledge sharing can change human behavior in the face of global challenges. It is not only a tool for policymakers and decision-makers, but also a framework for education, awareness, and inspiration.

Yet, the world has changed in troubling ways. The Sustainable Development Goals, once embraced globally, are now contested. Environmental protection is often sacrificed for short-term economic gains, and climate change denial continues to threaten progress.

Against this backdrop, what has ISDE achieved over the past six years?

Key Achievements

    · Organizational Strengthening: ISDE is now fully operational, more visible, and more relevant, thanks to a permanent Secretariat, bimonthly International Lectures, active working groups, two international journals, the Manual of Digital Earth, and a series of Vision Papers.

    · Partnerships: We have built stronger collaborations with leading organizations, including ISC, UN-GGIM, GEO, ISPRS, GRSS, CODATA, and AARSE.

    · Youth Engagement: We expanded our focus on the next generation through initiatives such as the Digital Earth Youth Innovation Network and the ISDE Youth Ambassador program.

    · Ethics and Society: We placed greater emphasis on societal and ethical considerations through dedicated working groups and publications.

    · Governance: ISDE now has more transparent governance processes and improved geographical and gender diversity in its leadership.

Ongoing Challenges

    · Uneven visibility across world regions

    · The dual mission of ISDE—balancing science promotion with policy influence

    · Lack of political recognition and the absence of a strong political champion for Digital Earth

Opportunities Ahead

ISDE has a unique role to play as a multidisciplinary, multitechnology organization capable of bridging more specialized scientific societies. In today’s climate of misinformation and skepticism, Digital Earth provides a flexible framework to advance public awareness, education, and behavioral change. Emerging tools—social media, virtual reality, immersive environments, and the metaverse—offer new opportunities to engage and inform.

We must also promote interoperability across people, technology, data, models, digital twins, and clouds, ensuring collaboration across communities. Above all, ISDE must continue to examine the social and ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.

Looking Forward

I am delighted to welcome Richard Simpson as the new ISDE President-elect. A dedicated member since 2006 and part of our first Executive Committee, Richard combines deep knowledge of Digital Earth with long-standing ISDE experience. I am confident he will ensure continuity while guiding the Society toward innovative new directions.

For me, the journey with Digital Earth began in 2003, at the 3rd International Symposium in Brno, where I was inspired by its potential to engage the public in environmental issues and highlight the power of individual action. That conviction has only grown stronger, and I will continue to champion the Digital Earth vision beyond my presidency.

Six years is a long time, and the commitment required has been far greater than I imagined when I first accepted this role. The progress we have achieved is the result of collective effort, and I am deeply grateful to all who have accompanied me on this journey. My warmest thanks go especially to my colleagues in the Bureau and the Secretariat, whose support and advice have been invaluable.

With gratitude and optimism,

Alessandro ANNONI

Past President, International Society for Digital Earth