Climate change and biodiversity loss are among the most pressing challenges of our time, demanding urgent and innovative responses. Robotics offers powerful tools to address these issues, yet a persistent gap remains between laboratory-based developments and their deployment in real-world environmental monitoring and conservation efforts. This workshop will focus on climate robotics with a particular emphasis on environmental and  biodiversity monitoring, protection and conservation of natural and fragile ecosystems.

We aim to bring together researchers, engineers, conservationists, and policymakers to explore how robotic platforms—ranging from aerial and underwater vehicles to autonomous sensor networks—can be adapted and scaled to meet the needs of field-based environmental observations, protection and restoration.

By fostering dialogue across disciplines, this workshop will identify pathways to translate innovative robotic solutions from controlled experimental environments to operational contexts in oceans, forests, wetlands, and other critical ecosystems. We will discuss case studies, emerging technologies, and collaborative frameworks that enhance our capacity to monitor biodiversity, detect early warning signs of environmental degradation, and inform timely conservation actions. The ultimate goal is to accelerate the adoption of climate robotics as a cornerstone of global efforts to safeguard the planet’s natural heritage.

The REaCT workshop at ICRA 2026 will feature world-renowned speakers who have made significant contributions to climate robotics, offering attendees the highest quality content. These experts have actively developed or deployed robotic technologies to monitor and address pressing environmental challenges, representing the state-of-the-art in this critical field. The workshop will host one panel discussions to create interdisciplinary dialogue on how to address real-world issues. Questions, doubts and challenges will be openly debated and the participation of everyone is strongly encouraged. In addition, an extended poster session will provide ample time for participants to engage in in-depth discussions with presenters, ensuring rich exchanges of the latest ideas in the field. 

We invite interested authors to submit extended abstracts (2 pages) of relevant works that will be peer-reviewed. Accepted abstracts will be posted on the workshop website and will presented during the poster session of the workshop. The best extended abstract and associated poster will be selected for a best poster award. In addition, we are planning to organize a journal special issue, and selected extended abstracts will be invited for submission.

• 31 March 2026: Submission deadline for poster + extended abstracts

• 15 April 2026: Acceptance notification

• 1st May 2026: Best abstract notification

• Workshop: 5 June 2026

The REaCT workshop will be held in room TBD.

For further questions please send an email to raphz@mit.edu