Outstanding contributions to the environment: Stefan Dech honoured

Professor Stefan Dech has "played a key role in advancing Earth observation as an essential tool for environmental analysis and sustainable planning", said Bavaria's State Minister of the Environment and Consumer Protection, Thorsten Glauber, in his laudatory speech at the award ceremony on 21 October 2026 at the Munich Residenz.

Dech, who is a senior professor at the Earth Observation Research Cluster at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), was one of 14 people honoured with the Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Contributions to the Environment.

According to Glauber, successful environmental protection requires "people with a sense of responsibility, the courage to explore new approaches, and the determination to put their ideas into practice".

Outstanding work in the field of Earth observation

Stefan Dech's work provides insights and approaches to addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, urban growth, and geohazards, both globally and regionally. In addition to establishing the Chair of Remote Sensing and the Earth Observation Research Cluster at JMU, he served as Director of the German Remote Sensing Data Center at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) from 1998 until the end of September 2026.

For his research in the field of Earth observation, Dech uses drones and satellite-based data, among other technologies. This enables him to investigate a wide range of environmental issues in Europe, the Arctic, Africa, Asia, and South America.

His work has made a significant contribution to improving our understanding of global change processes. Through collaborations with national parks and conservation partners, his research has also found practical applications. One example is the EO4CAM data portal, which supports Bavarian authorities and local governments in matters relating to climate-adapted urban development, forestry, and agriculture.

Through exhibitions and books, Stefan Dech also succeeds in presenting the research questions addressed in his field in a visually engaging and accessible way to a wider audience.

Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Contributions to the Environment

The Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Contributions to the Environment is awarded annually by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection to up to 15 individuals, associations, or municipalities that have made outstanding contributions to environmental protection and consumer protection.

The State Medal is the highest distinction awarded by the Free State of Bavaria in this field.

In 2026, Stefan Dech is among several prominent recipients. Other honourees include actress and wildlife presenter Annika Preil (Anna und die wilden Tiere) and Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, known for his extreme mountaineering achievements. Dech has already collaborated with the South Tyrolean on several successful book projects combining high-resolution Earth observation data with expert knowledge of the Alps.