The Electron Microscopy Hands-On Course: sample preparation and imaging of marine environmental samples arises from a very strong and active collaboration between the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the EMBL in Heidelberg.

The aim of the course is to provide a theoretical and practical training on electron microscopy starting from the basics to the preparation of samples with high pressure freezing and image acquisition using TEM and SEM.
The course will also include lectures on advanced and recently developed technologies as volume electron microscopy and correlative light-electron microscopy.
The course will be held at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples on 8-11 April 2026 and will target in particular researchers and technicians from scientific institutions interested in the field of electron microscopy. No documented experience in electron microscopy is required.

Theoretical lessons

Sample preparation for EM – Chemical fixations
Sample preparation for EM - High pressure Freezing- Freeze substitution
Image formation in TEM and SEM
Sectioning difficult marine organisms
Immunolabeling
Correlative Light Electron Microscopy
Volume Electron Microscopy
Case studies (lectures by Fellows from ZooCELL Doctoral Network)

Practical lessons

Sample preparation: from the sea to the tube
Sample preparation for SEM
Ultramicrotomy
High pressure freezing
Image acquisition at TEM
Image acquisition at SEM

Teachers

Giovanna Benvenuto, SZN
Alexandra Kerbl, COS Heidelberg
Karel Mocaer, COS Heidelberg
Viola Oorschot, EMBL, Heidelberg
Paolo Ronchi, EMBL, Heidelberg
Fellows from ZooCELL Doctoral Network

Keynote lecturer

Detlev Arendt, EMBL, Heidelberg (title TBD)

ORGANIZERS: Giovanna Benvenuto, Alexandra Kerbl, Karel Mocaer and Paolo Ronchi
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Join the First Edition of the International Summer School in Bioremediation of Aquatic Environments (SSBIOREM1) which will be held at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples!

Are you a graduate student, PhD candidate or early-career researcher passionate about aquatic ecosystems and sustainable solutions to decontaminate polluted ecosystems? 

The International Summer School in Bioremediation of Aquatic Environments, is an intensive four-day experience blending cutting-edge science, practical training, and rich cultural immersion in one of Italy’s most iconic scientific institutions.

Taking place from 7–10 October 2025 at the Department of Ecosustanaible Marine Biotechnology (BLUBIO) sited at the Molosiglio seat (Via Acton, 55) in Naples, this school offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from leading experts in environmental science, microbiology, and biotechnology. The four days of summer school will be focused on current interdisciplinary approaches used in the bioremediation field, focusing on the exploitation of microbes to remove or neutralize pollutants from contaminated sites. It can be considered a promising alternative to conventional chemical methods, which usually foresee high investment costs and do not exclude the formation of toxic byproducts.

The Summer School program organized by researchers and technologists of the Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department of the SZN will enhance current knowledge in bioremediation techniques, contribute to habitat restoration efforts, and highlight the need for innovative, environmentally friendly solutions. Lectures, short communications, and practical afternoon sessions will create a stimulating environment for participants and give them skills and tools on the most updated methodologies in the remediation field.

What You’ll Learn

Bioremediation – the use of living organisms to clean up pollutants from the environment – is one of the most promising solutions to aquatic contamination. This summer school provides a comprehensive overview of the theory, techniques, and current innovations in this rapidly growing field.

Each day focuses on a key theme:

• Day 1: Impact of Pollutants and Introduction to Bioremediation – Begin with a welcome from the BLUBIO Department, followed by engaging lectures on the impacts of pollutants on human health, and the foundational roles of bacteria and microalgae in bioremediation. A hands-on lab will guide you through isolating microalgae and fungi suitable for cleaning aquatic environments.
• Day 2: Bioremediation Strategies using Microorganisms – Dive deeper into the microbial players involved in pollutant degradation, including bacteria, fungi, and algae. Learn how communities of these organisms interact in real-world remediation scenarios. In the afternoon, you’ll construct your own bioremediation microcosm, simulating contamination treatment on a small scale.
• Day 3: Innovative Approaches – Explore novel technologies like MICP (microbially induced calcite precipitation), plastic degradation using microbial enzymes, and bioleaching. Evaluate microcosm performance in the lab while discovering next-generation strategies for environmental restoration.
• Day 4: Case Studies & Success Stories – Wrap up with lectures on real-world bioremediation projects, such as the LIFE SEDREMED initiative, and discuss how lifecycle analysis and biological treatments are reshaping environmental policy and practice. The school concludes with awards for the best student presentations and posters.

Practical Learning

Beyond theoretical knowledge, this summer school is designed to equip you with hands-on experience. Daily lab sessions give you the chance to apply what you've learned, guided by leading researchers in bioremediation. You’ll practice key techniques, from microbial isolation to experimental setup and evaluation of bioremediation performance.

Meet Experts and Build Your Network

You’ll learn from renowned scientist expert in the field. Here the list of speakers that will give a lecture whose expertise covers medical ecology, molecular microbiology, and environmental chemistry and biotechnology:
The summer school also includes student presentation sessions, offering a unique platform to share your own research and receive feedback from experienced mentors and peers.

Cultural & Social Program in Beautiful Naples

When you’re not in the lab or lecture hall, enjoy the vibrant life and history of Naples! Optional evening activities include a visit to the Bagnoli-Coroglio SIN (Sites of National Interest) in the Gulf of Pozzuoli, the stunning Castel dell’Ovo, and social dinner and aperitifs – all designed to foster networking and relaxation.

Why Attend?

• Learn the science behind one of the most critical environmental challenges of our time
• Gain hands-on training in laboratory techniques
• Network with top researchers and fellow participants from across disciplines
• Discover Naples, one of Italy’s cultural treasures

Download the program 

Register now and secure your spot at the International Summer School in Bioremediation of Aquatic Environments! Write an email to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.

Download the registration form at “link”

Registration fee (coffee and lunch breaks)
In-person: 330 €
Remote: 100 €
Number of participants: min. 20 (in-person), max. 2-3 (remote)
Deadline: 8th september, 2025

About the Winter School. Understanding how global changes affect marine biodiversity requires powerful model systems. The Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has long been a key species in environmental research and is now gaining increasing relevance in evolutionary and developmental biology. Recent advances in genomic and technological resources have made M. galloprovincialis a unique model to study biological processes with unprecedented precision in marine biology, bridging ecological (ECO), evolutionary (EVO) and developmental (DEVO) perspectives. The MytEED Winter School aims to bring together researchers working on M. galloprovincialis to share expertise, harmonize methodologies, and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

Objectives & Topics. MytEED aims to provide in-depth training on M. galloprovincialis as a model organism, highlight ECO-EVO-DEVO approaches in marine biology, strengthen interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration, and discuss the impact of global climate change on marine biodiversity.

Program Overview

Day 1. Welcome, Registration & Poster Session
Day 2. Development, Ecology & Toxicology
Day 3. Epigenetics, Nervous System & Bioinformatics
Day 4. Immunology, Aquaculture & Single-cell
Day 5. Genomics & Concluding remarks. Aquarium and Darwin-Dohrn Museum visit, Social Dinner.
(Detailed program will be provided upon registration)

Practical Information

Location. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Francesco Caracciolo, 80122 Napoli (NA), Italy

Accommodation: A list of suggested hotels and guesthouses will be provided.

Meals: Lunch and coffee breaks are included in the registration fee.

Fees & Registration. The participation fee is €300 per person. The fee includes lectures, course material, coffee breaks, lunches, and social events. Accommodation and travel are not included.

The Systems Biology Approach To Discover Marine Life: From A Big Eye To A Microscopic Picture

27th - 30th October 2025

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples - Darwin-Dohrn Museum

Villa Comunale, Naples

Systems biology aims to achieve a holistic view of biological phenomena by integrating information of different natures and studying the network of dynamic connections existing between organisms, organisms and their environment, and the molecules that underpin these dynamics (genes, proteins, secondary metabolites). To understand how each element interacts with others and influences the system, an integrated interdisciplinary approach is necessary, encompassing various scientific disciplines and expertise. Biological systems possess the extraordinary ability to adapt in response to environmental stimuli, stress, lack of food, or developmental stage, as well as the fascinating ability to correct their errors, such as gene mutations. From this perspective, given their high biodiversity, oceans represent a perfect example of a complex system whose functioning can only be understood through an interdisciplinary approach.

Systems biology thus integrates knowledge obtained through traditional approaches with that generated by the use of innovative technologies that allow for the collection of large amounts of data. These latter include, for example, genomic and transcriptomic sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics used on an oceanographic scale (metagenomics) but also at a single-cell level (single-cell genomics). The combination of new technologies, bioinformatics software for data management, and integrated biomolecular and biochemical methods allows for the study of extremely complex biological systems with unprecedented resolution.

Based on the above description, this course aims to provide students with the foundations to develop an understanding of the study of oceans and their biodiversity through a systematic approach.

Target Audience

Open to Graduate and PhD students, postdocs and early career researchers.

Theoretical and practical lesson on:

• Ecosystem Scale Modeling
• Omics Workflows
• Evolutionary;Genomics & Eco Evo Devo
• Biotech & Synthetic Biology

Lecturers

• Chris Bowler CNRS ENS Paris, France
• Juan Pascual Anaya University of Malaga, Spain
• Klaas Vandepoele Ghent University , Belgium
• Ferdinando Boero University of Naples , Italy
• Periklis Paganos MBL, Woods Hole , USA
• Luca Ambrosino, SZN Naples, Italy
• Lucia Campese, SZN Naples, Italy
• Domenico D’Alelio, SZN Naples, Italy
• Gerardo Della Sala, SZN Naples, Italy
• Giacinto De Vivo, SZN Naples, Italy
• Giovanna Romano, SZN Naples, Italy
• Monia Teresa Russo, SZN Naples, Italy

The course is open to a maximum of 30 participants and will be held with a minimum of 20 participants.

Important Information

Application deadline:

Early Bird: July 15, 2025
Late: August 31, 2025

Apply through the website:

https://isssb2022.wixsite.com/isssystemsbiology25

Fee per person:

Early, 350 euros;
Late, 400 euros.

Organizers:

Valeria Di Dato, Rossella Annunziata, Angela Sardo, Lucia Campese, Ida Orefice
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