The International Symposium for Remote Sensing of Environment (ISRSE; www.syposia.org) was first convened in 1962, making it the oldest and most prominent symposium of its type in the world. Currently, continuity is supplied by the International Center for Remote Sensing of Environment (ICRSE; www.icrse.org), a non-profit corporation that was created to manage the symposium series. Overall guidance is provided by the International Committee on Remote Sensing of Environment (ICORSE) for which I serve as chairman. Members of ICORSE are drawn from world's space agencies.

In January of 2000, the Center signed a Letter of Intent with the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) to strengthen cooperation and coordination and in July of 2000 the General Assembly of ISPRS approved the installation of the executive committee as the International Committee on Remote Sensing of Environment (ICORSE) of ISPRS. In addition to its role in providing policy and programmatic guidance to ISRSE, ICORSE serves as a standing advisory committee to the ISPRS Council.

With respect to its primary function, in 2008 ICORSE began to organize the 33rd ISRSE to be held in Stresa, Italy, May 4-9, 2009. The symposium was hosted by the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission, with sponsorship provided the JRC, NASA (United States), the European Space Agency, EUMETSAT, CNES (France), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and the Italian space industry (Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space).

The 33rd ISRSE specifically addressed the UN Millennium Development Goals. It was structured along the societal benefit areas of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative. Taking advantage of the diversity of attendees at 33rd ISRSE, GEO and other groups also scheduled a series of complementary meetings (see table below).

The 33rd ISRSE was convened in the Stresa Palazzo dei Congressi on May 4, 2009 (http://isrse-33.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php?page=home). As the table shows, it was an unqualified success.

The complete final program of all presentations, sponsors, other activities can be found at the symposium website (http://isrse-33.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/ISRSE_33_final_Programme.pdf)

The 34th ISRSE will be held in the first half of 2011 in Sydney, Australia. It will be hosted by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Planning meetings are expected to commence in October, 2009.

Per-Erik Skrovseth, Chairman
International Committee on Remote Sensing of Environment