The 2025 European Mars Conference (EMC2025) concluded this weekend (28-29 November) in Paris, drawing together a vibrant community of researchers, engineers, students, and space advocates committed to advancing humanity’s future on the Red Planet. The event featured a rich and wide-ranging program, including a keynote address by Mars Society President and Founder Dr. Robert Zubrin, along side numerous sessions covering scientific, technical, and societal aspects of Mars exploration.
Among the many subjects discussed, several themes stood out. Participants explored the latest updates on the Rosalind Franklin rover and Europe’s ongoing search for signs of life on Mars. There were also engaging conversations about emerging MarsLink communications systems that could one day support reliable links between Earth and Mars, as well as thoughtful examinations of potential locations for long-term human habitats on the Martian surface.
Attendees also heard about the expanding role of Mars analog simulations across Europe—programs that train future explorers and test mission concepts under Earth-based Mars-like conditions. Additional sessions provided insight into China’s growing Mars exploration efforts, framing them within an increasingly international landscape of planetary science. Presentations on next-generation exploratory rovers offered a look at new capabilities in robotics, autonomy, and scientific instrumentation.
These were just a few highlights within a much broader slate of talks and panels. Mars Society chapters from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, and Ukraine also contributed meaningful presentations, showcasing the depth and diversity of the European Mars community and its commitment to collaboration.
Hosted by Association Planète Mars, the French chapter of the Mars Society, EMC2025 demonstrated once again that Europe continues to play a vital role in shaping the ideas, technologies, and partnerships that will guide humanity’s journey to Mars.
