The training was led by Ana Carolina Peralta and Tylar Murray from the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, and Nuno Vaz Álvaro from the University of the Azores. Participants were guided through best practices for standardising biological data using internationally recognised standards such as Darwin Core.
A dedicated fieldwork day complemented the technical sessions, providing practical experience in collecting and processing benthic photo-quadrat imagery in accordance with MBON Pole to Pole protocols for long-term monitoring of rocky intertidal communities.
By the end of the workshop, participants had advanced their datasets to publication-ready standards, aligned with international best practices for biodiversity data sharing and documentation. This directly strengthens the availability of high-quality marine biological data to support scientific research, species conservation, and ecosystem-based management.
Building on the success of this first edition, the AIR Centre and MBON confirm that a second workshop will take place in 2026, from 19-23 October.
Access the dataset here.
[PC, 2 March 2026]
Collaboration
calendar_today July 28, 2026
On 23–24 July, the V Ocean Decade Conference took place on Ilha da Boa Vista, Cape Verde, bringing together political leaders, international organisations, researchers and practitioners.
Collaboration
calendar_today July 24, 2026
Colombia and the Netherlands have released the official report of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24 to 29 April 2026. The full English and Spanish reports are now available.
Research
calendar_today July 24, 2026
The final public event of the ROKAMURAE‑AZ project took place on 23 July at the Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional João José da Graça, in Horta, Faial, where researchers and regional authorities presented the latest scientific evidence on the rapid spread of the invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores.
