Virtual Science Symposium

VSS: Celebrating 2026 Research Teams

Two students wearing life jackets stand by a lake, holding a tube for measuring water data.
The GLOBE Program received 340 Virtual Science Symposium (VSS) submissions in 2026, and each one is worth celebrating! Participants of all ages from 26 countries, representing all six GLOBE regions, submitted projects to the 2026 VSS showing once again GLOBE's worldwide reach. 

Research teams embraced the "GLOBE Data Detectives: Using Data to Explore Change in Your Local Environment" theme with their creative approaches to using GLOBE protocols and data to investigate their local environments. Nearly seventy percent of all submitted projects applied for the "I am a Data Scientist" badge for accessing and analyzing data from the GLOBE database to investigate their research questions. 
 

Africa

Four pictures of students in Africa collecting data outside and watching an experiment inside.

Fun Facts

More than half of all VSS projects from Africa have been submitted in just the past four years.
2026 Total Projects: 4

Asia and Pacific

Fun Facts

Since 2021, Asia and Pacific has submitted the most reports of any region — nearly three times more than the second-highest region.
2026 Total Projects: 171
Four pictures of students from Asia and Pacific doing GLOBE protocols.

Europe and Eurasia

Four pictures of students from Europe and Eurasia doing GLOBE protocols, reviewing computer data and posing for a picture in a group..

Fun Facts

Since 2022, Europe and Eurasia has the highest average report score — 3.51 — among the regions. 
2026 Total Projects: 28

Latin America and Caribbean

Fun Facts

Latin America and Caribbean's 2025 project total broke the region's record for most in a year, which had previously been 37 in 2024.
2026 Total Projects: 42
Four pictures of students from Latin America and Caribbean, looking up during an eclipse and collecting tree data.

Near East and North Africa

Four pictures of students from Near East and North Africa working on GLOBE protocols outside.

Fun Facts

Prior to 2026, the most projects any one region has ever submitted in a single year was 118, from Near East and North Africa in 2019.
2026 Total Projects: 49

North America

Fun Facts

Since 2022, North America is tied — with Asia and Pacific — for the highest number of four-star projects, with a total of 80.
2026 Total Projects: 46
Four images of students from North America working on GLOBE protocols outside.