A new field course on “Oceanography & Applied Marine Conservation” has started these days in Archipelagos’ research base on Samos island. It is a taught module course for final year marine biology students of Essex University, UK, which from this year will be taught annually in Archipelagos’ research bases in the Aegean: on the islands of Samos, Lipsi and Ikaria.

For the design of this new field course, many months of preparation were required, in cooperation with academics from Essex University. The field course focuses on: fisheries and oceanographic research, marine pollution, mapping protected marine habitats and monitoring of marine mammal populations.

Through this cooperation we are greatly impressed by the good level, true interest and the concern of the students in issues related to the protection of our seas. It is really hopeful to cooperate with academics who truly inspire the new generation of scientists.

This new course is an addition to the multiple courses of applied environmental research that are taught at Archipelagos throughout the year, in collaboration with universities in Europe and the USA. From the beginning of this year up to the present moment, over 500 participants from universities, colleges and schools from 22 countries (USA, India, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and all of Europe) have taken part in this innovative series of lessons in applied environmental conservation. Most of the classes delivered are compulsory and examined and constitute part of the curriculum of the respective educational institutions.

Besides providing financial support for Archipelagos in order for the institute to remain self-sufficient and autonomous in its actions, these applied educational courses also form an important tool for conservation. The presence of hundreds of students and scientists brings in revenue to the local communities of the islands and this encourages the local island population to engage in the environmental protection of their region.