SPACE::LAB summer school connected space physics and artificial intelligence

Between August 25 – 27, 2025, Institute of Experimental Physics SAS in Košice hosted another SPACE::LAB summer school. This event welcomed talented students and young professionals interested in connecting space physics with modern artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

This year, the summer school focused on the idea that AI is not a threat but a tool in human hands. “Nowadays, as artificial intelligence is entering all sectors, many people ask what humans will do if AI takes over all tasks. Based on our experience, AI is a useful tool that we need to learn how to use effectively. During the summer school, participants had the chance to explore how cooperation between humans and AI can bring a synergistic effect and push the boundaries of our knowledge,” said Šimon Mackovjak, member of the Department of Space Physics at the Institute of Experimental Physics SAS, who has been organizing these summer schools since 2019.

During the course of three days, participants became familiar with the latest trends in space research. They gained knowledge about using AI assistants for efficient coding to process data from space missions and worked with advanced concepts such as AI agents and MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. They also learnt the latest updates on ESA missions, such as Euclid and the upcoming Vigil mission, and learned how AI is gradually being integrated directly into space technologies.

Alongside to the practical skills, summer school aimed to strengthen trust in evidence-based scientific knowledge. In recent world, where society is increasingly exposed to misinformation and conspiracy theories, direct work with scientific data and facts is extremely important. The summer school provided a space where young people could experience how the scientific method leads to verifiable results and that scientific knowledge is key to understanding the truth.

The high-quality program was the result of collaboration between experienced instructors from the Institute of Experimental Physics SAS, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at the Technical University of Košice, the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, and the private sector. The SPACE::LAB summer school once again confirmed its role as an important platform for education and talent development in the field of space research in Slovakia.

Source: SAS News