Field courses in the Aegean
Archipelagos Field courses
For over 20 years, Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has been dedicated to protecting the Greek Seas through hands-on research and conservation.
As a vital part of these efforts, our team offers fully customizable field course experiences to students from universities and schools all over the world. Field courses generally last 1 to 3 weeks, and the programs combine multiple modules tailored to students’ interests, backgrounds, and desired learning outcomes.
These unique learning experiences provide students with the opportunity to study on board our research vessels, including the Triton, Aegean Explorer, Pinelopi and Naftilos.
All field courses offer participants hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment while actively contributing to our diverse marine conservation projects. These initiatives include monitoring marine mammal populations, mapping protected marine habitats, and conducting research on microplastic pollution, seagrass meadows, coastal biodiversity, environmental policy, blue carbon, climate change, and more.
Archipelagos field courses allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios!
Watch our video showcasing courses developed in collaboration with two of Archipelagos’ university partners— the University of Essex and Cardiff University (UK)—which have integrated Archipelagos’ field courses into their final-year curricula.
Programs
Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation offers exciting programs for student groups with a desire to acquire hands-on field experience in applied research and conservation. Join our team in the Aegean Sea to start building this learning opportunity today.
- Hands on work with land and sea-based surveys.
- Training in the use of state-of-the-art oceanographic equipment, including Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), sonars, biomass scanner, drones, hydrophones, multiparameter probes.
- Mapping and monitoring the distribution of protected habitats and species, such as marine mammals, Posidonia seagrass and coraligenous habitats.
- Surveying experience using boat-based, snorkel-based and kayak methods.
- Assessing the anthropogenic impacts on our coastal ecosystems.
- Interview-based surveys to record Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK).
Example Field Courses at Archipelagos
These environmental field research programs are part of the year-round activities and research of the International School of the Sea which is composed of researchers staying and working at our research bases, actively participating in the conservation activities of the Archipelagos Institute.
Penn State, USA & College Year in Athens
Conservation Issues: Confronting the Mediterranean Sea & Sustainable Solutions:
A multidisciplinary approach with a focus on plastic and microplastic pollution.
Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Belgium
Marine Mammal Behaviour & Welfare:
A combination of research on marine mammals and the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary, a project under construction for formerly captive dolphins.
University of Toronto - Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design, Canada
Aegean Islet Conservation & Restoration:
Documentation of the cultural and natural landscape formations and ecological identity of islets.
Cardiff University- Geography Department, UK
Oceanographic Research:
Focus on Coastal Zone Management, Habitat Mapping, Marine Mammal Research and Microplastic Pollution.
Essex University - Biology Department, UK
Applied Marine Conservation:
Module to develop skills in the use of oceanographic equipment, including biomass scanners, ROVs, sonars, hydrophones and lab analyses.
Floating Laboratory for Action and Theory at Sea (FLOATS )
On-board interdisciplinary workshops:
Tailored to academic researchers in social anthropology, politics, history, art, architecture and political ecology from Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey and the USA.
