“At a time when the problems we have created in nature are escalating at an unprecedented pace, the challenges facing the world’s seas and ecosystems are shared, and addressing them must also be a collective effort. Real field research gives the next generation of scientists the opportunity to experience these challenges first-hand, while developing the knowledge, skills and collaborative mindset needed to tackle them. This is the mission of the International School of the Sea: to inspire and prepare scientists who do not simply document environmental problems, but actively contribute to the development and implementation of solutions with a tangible and measurable impact on biodiversity conservation.”
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation hosted a two-day internal conference at its conference centre on the island of Samos, where researchers and students of the International School of the Sea presented and discussed the results of their research across a broad range of scientific disciplines.
For more than 25 years, the International School of the Sea has provided students and young scientists from around the world with the opportunity to participate in applied field research as part of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies. To date, more than 27,000 students, researchers and professionals from 43 countries, representing dozens of scientific disciplines, have actively contributed to the innovative applied research and biodiversity conservation initiatives carried out by the Archipelagos Institute.
During the conference:
🌊 Marine Mammal researchers presented studies on the photo-identification of dolphins, sperm whales and Cuvier’s beaked whales, population abundance estimates, animal behaviour and health, bioacoustic research on cetaceans and Mediterranean monk seals, monitoring of sea turtle foraging grounds, quantifying the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, and predictions of future species distribution in an environment increasingly shaped by climate change. Many of these studies are based on the Institute’s long-term research in the North Ikaria Trench, one of the Mediterranean’s most important areas for marine mammals, as well as on systematic research carried out throughout the northern and southern Aegean Sea.
🌿 Researchers in Island Terrestrial Biodiversity presented long-term studies on the migratory behaviour of birds, the biodiversity of reptiles, small mammals and pollinators across both large and small Aegean islands and islets, together with targeted research monitoring populations of the golden jackal and the Mediterranean chameleon.
🐟 Researchers from the Coastal Biodiversity Observatory, maintaining a continuous research presence across many regions of the Aegean throughout the year, presented studies on the occurrence and distribution of silver-cheeked pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) and lionfish, as well as the recent first records of new alien marine species in the Aegean. The early detection and systematic monitoring of alien species represents one of the highest research priorities of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation. Additional presentations focused on population studies of sea cucumbers and octopuses, together with the development of AI-based automatic fish identification systems.
🗺️ Researchers in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing demonstrated how spatial analysis, habitat mapping, predictive modelling, monitoring of fishing activities, and the integration of satellite data with field observations support research and improve our understanding of environmental change.
🔬 Field Laboratory researchers presented the latest results from analyses of microplastics in marine ecosystems and wetlands, together with water quality analyses based on samples collected from numerous locations across the Aegean Sea. These analyses contribute to identifying sources of pollution and contamination, assessing their impacts on biodiversity, and evaluating potential risks to public health.
Additional presentations covered sustainable fisheries, the impacts of wildfires, marine protected areas, and the problem of so-called paper parks (protected areas that exist only on paper), alongside many other topics, highlighting the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of the research carried out by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine
