EcoScope holds training course on big marine data analytics and models

The EU-funded EcoScope project held an intensive three-day training course on Big Marine Data Analytics and Models on May 16-18, 2023 at the KEDEK Building of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in Greece.

The course was provided in the framework of the EcoScope Academy and co-organised by AUTH and the Italian National Research Council (CNR).

Over the past few months, thirty-five applications from young researchers from thirteen different countries have been submitted for the course. The course was successfully completed by twenty-three of the participants.

Dr. Gianpaolo Coro, a researcher at the Italian National Research Council, conducted the course. Over the past two decades, Coro has been developing methodologies for processing biological data with Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining technologies.

In specific classes during the training course, students were introduced to specific issues in marine science and strategies for addressing them. They were taught advanced techniques and methodologies for analysing marine Big Data, including vessel-transmitted data, and examining sea life. Data analyses and exercises used real cases of UN bodies (such as the FAO, UNEP and UNESCO) related to marine food and ecosystem safety, to illustrate new frontiers of Open Science research.

This first course of the EcoScope Academy is part of a planned series of courses for young researchers focusing on marine science and fisheries management, within the ecosystem context, which aim to promote cross-community education and knowledge-sharing.

The workshop represents the launch of an ambitious and transformative initiative in marine science and fisheries management education. With a focus on cross-community education and knowledge-sharing, the program aims to equip young researchers with the necessary expertise and collaborative mindset to tackle the pressing challenges facing our marine ecosystems.

By fostering interdisciplinary learning, facilitating knowledge exchange, and promoting a holistic understanding of marine science, the EcoScope Academy lays the groundwork for a future generation of scientists committed to the sustainable stewardship of our oceans.

By focusing on marine science and fisheries management, the program recognises the pressing need to understand and protect our marine environments. With the world's oceans facing unprecedented challenges such as overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change, it is crucial to equip young researchers with the necessary tools and knowledge to tackle these complex issues. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the EcoScope Academy encourages participants to explore the multifaceted nature of marine ecosystems, integrating aspects of biology, ecology, oceanography, and socio-economic considerations.