GLOBE News
Thank You, 2026 VSS Participants!
The 2026 Virtual Science Symposium (VSS) project submission window officially closed on 30 January—and what an incredible symposium it's been! A remarkable 340 projects were submitted, including approximately 20 research proposals and 320 research investigations, from teams spanning all six GLOBE regions and 26 countries. Together, they highlight the creativity, innovation, and scientific curiosity of GLOBE researchers of all ages around the world. Visit the Student Research Reports database to explore the projects!
Participants applied GLOBE protocols extensively—conducting investigations using approximately 613 Hydrosphere, 323 Pedosphere, 315 Atmosphere, and 67 Biosphere protocols—demonstrating that teams are exploring all of Earth’s interconnected systems in meaningful and innovative ways. In addition, research teams applied for more than 900 badges, with the most popular being I am a Data Scientist, I am a Collaborator, and I Make an Impact—highlighting not only strong scientific inquiry, but also the development of essential 21st century skills such as data analysis, teamwork, and real-world problem solving.
This year’s projects represent a wide range of age groups: 30 primary school, 57 middle school, 230 secondary school, 15 undergraduate, and 9 post-graduate/citizen scientist teams—demonstrating that scientific discovery truly spans generations.
We’re deeply grateful to the dedicated educator mentors and collaborating STEM professionals who supported these high-quality research efforts every step of the way. A special thank you goes to the 282 STEM reviewers from around the world—including scientists, educators, GLOBE alumni, and other STEM professionals—who are generously volunteering their time to provide thoughtful feedback. Research teams can expect to receive their feedback in early March.
Learn more about the GLOBE Virtual Science Symposium.