Name: Workshop Enhancing Marine Biodiversity data collection and publication 2026
Start: 2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-23T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal

The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and the AIR Centre will host an in-person, hands-on, interactive workshop focused on mobilising marine biological observation datasets to the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). The objective is to help data holders understand the value of following good practices for standardising biological data, using widely accepted biodiversity standards like Darwin Core. This includes records of various biological attributes and ecosystem observations from different sampling methodologies. A complementary activity of the workshop will contemplate a field workday in which participants will receive training on the collection and processing of benthic photo-quadrat imagery and their analysis following MBON Pole to Pole monitoring protocols, aiming to enhance capacity for long-term monitoring of rocky intertidal communities. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a clear understanding of the process of mobilising biological data to OBIS and will have brought a dataset to a final maturity state that aligns with best practices for data sharing and biodiversity documentation. The workshop will also enhance awareness of improving the quality of marine biodiversity data and will increase the availability of marine biological data for scientific research, species conservation, and ecosystem-based management by promoting data publication through OBIS. Moreover, the workshop will foster collaborative research efforts among participants and contribute to the MBON community of practice by increasing capacity in the implementation of coordinated and standardised biodiversity observing and publishing efforts. The program/schedule is available here.

Prerequisite skills and expertise Participants are expected to have familiarity with:

Working with taxonomic occurrence data
Using spreadsheet tools (e.g., Excel, LibreOffice, Google Sheets).
File handling & different file formats (Working with CSV, TXT, and Excel formats).
Basic Python or R programming
Study of sandy beach or rocky shore environments (not mandatory)
Basic data wrangling skills for marine biodiversity data management (e.g., data structuring)

Registration is closed (a €50 registration fee will be charged upon selection). Applications are open until May 25, 2026. Selected candidates will be notified by June 19. A registration fee of 50 euros must be paid by 10 July to secure your place (information will be sent by email). The training covers classes, coffee breaks, lunches, a cocktail dinner and transfers. Flights, accommodation and remaining dinners are excluded. The AIR Centre is offering an exciting, funded opportunity for three researchers from institutions along the West Atlantic Coast of Africa to attend our workshop. More information can be found here. For more information, please contact joana.soares@aircentre.org.

Speakers

Carolina Peralta Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) University of South Florida - College of Marine Science St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Dr. Ana Carolina Peralta Brichtova is a highly experienced biologist specializing in marine invertebrate biology and reproduction, marine biodiversity, ecological monitoring, and data management. With over 20 years of research experience, she has led and contributed to numerous projects focused on marine ecosystems, seagrass assessment, and biodiversity data standardization. She has a strong background in observational oceanography and has been instrumental in shaping the operational processes that bridge field data collection with data sharing through open-access repositories, ensuring that critical biodiversity information is accessible and usable for global research and conservation efforts. Dr. Peralta has played a key role in advancing standardized best practices and methodologies for coastal biodiversity assessment through her involvement in international initiatives such as the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), and the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS). She has contributed to major research efforts, including the MarineGEO Seagrass Assessment (Smithsonian MarineGEO), the Florida Reef Water Quality project (DEP-FWC), the Seagrass Integrated Mapping and Monitoring program (SIMM-FWC), and the Blue Green Action Platform (BlueGAP, NSF). Her work also extends to the Census of Marine Life (NaGISA Venezuela), artisanal fisheries impact studies in Venezuela, and marine biodiversity assessments in Chile and the Caribbean. Through her extensive professional experience as a professor, mentor, and member of various working groups worldwide, Dr. Peralta is deeply engaged in translating scientific knowledge into community benefits, education, strategic communication, and cultural connections. Her work supports capacity development, fosters collaboration among stakeholders, and strengthens the link between science and society. She continues to contribute to global biodiversity data initiatives, ensuring the implementation of high-quality standards for marine research and conservation.

Tylar Murray Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) University of South Florida - College of Marine Science St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Dr. Tylar Murray is a scientific researcher specializing in human-computer interaction and data science, with a focus on marine biodiversity monitoring and data standardization. Dr. Murray has served as technical lead on marine biodiversity projects funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), maintaining multiple satellite processing data pipelines through the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON). Leveraging Google Earth Engine (GEE), Python, R, and MATLAB, Dr. Murray works across the full data lifecycle—from exploratory visualization and quality control to production analysis—while championing Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) data and Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) principles in science. Dr. Murray is an active member of the Standardizing Marine Biological Data Working Group, contributing to the development of best practices and co-organizing annual biological data mobilization workshops. Dr. Murray has extensive experience guiding researchers, students, and stakeholders in marine data science, equipping them with the skills to work with biodiversity data effectively. In addition to research and technical leadership, Dr. Murray provides mentorship and training to support the adoption of open, standardized data workflows across the scientific community.

Nuno Álvaro Institute of Agriculture and Environmental Research and Technology University of the Azores

Dr Nuno Miguel da Silva Ascensão Vaz Álvaro is an Assistant Researcher in the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology of the University of the Azores. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of the Azores and has developed extensive expertise in coastal ecology within the archipelago, working across both intertidal and subtidal zones. His research focuses on the characterisation, conservation, and cartography of coastal biotic communities, with an emphasis on non-destructive methodologies and the use of SCUBA diving for scientific research, as well as the impact of anthropic disturbance on marine organisms and strategies to mitigate the effects. In intertidal ecosystems, he has studied the distribution and abundance of crabs on cobble beaches and examined the effects of hydrodynamic conditions on biological communities, as published in works such as Comparative population biology and reproduction of two sympatric crabs (Grapsidae) on Azores cobble beaches (2018) and Efeitos da hidrodinâmica em comunidades biológicas de praias de calhau rolado (2013). His subtidal research has contributed to the identification and mapping of marine fauna and flora down to 30 m depth, using photographic surveys and GIS tools, as seen in publications like Mapping marine biotopes in Graciosa – Azores (2007) and Characterization of subtidal benthic communities (2005). He has advocated for the use of underwater photography as a non-invasive tool, included in The use of digital photography for benthic coastal community characterization and quantification. (2006), where digital imaging was applied to the identification of intertidal and subtidal algal communities. He has authored and co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers, such, A multi-dimensional approach to improve validation practices for qualitative models of marine social-ecological systems (Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 2025), and The razor clam Solen marginatus Pulteney, 1799: A new anthropogenic marine introduction in the Azores Archipelago (2024). His contributions to applied conservation also include several regional coastal field guides, such as the Vila Franca do Campo Islet Guide (2016) and the Azores Coastal Guides series (2008 –2010), which provide mapping and habitat classifications of intertidal and subtidal biotopes. At the University of the Azores, Dr Álvaro teaches the courses Climatology and Water Resources and Climate and Meteorology, both within the domains of environmental sciences and Agronomy. Although his teaching is focused on atmospheric and hydrological processes, his research remains strongly connected to marine and coastal ecology, benthic invertebrate ecology, seasonal variability in coastal communities, and environmental quality assessments in marine habitats.

Workshop Enhancing Marine Biodiversity data collection and publication 2026

Speakers

Carolina Peralta Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) University of South Florida - College of Marine Science St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Tylar Murray Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) University of South Florida - College of Marine Science St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Nuno Álvaro Institute of Agriculture and Environmental Research and Technology University of the Azores

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