The 21st edition of the AZTI Summer School was held in the Aquarium of San Sebastian from the 3rd to the 5th of June, under the name of “Artificial intelligence and citizen science in monitoring and assessing biodiversity and invasive species at sea”. 

Organised by AZTI in collaboration with several EU projects, including GES4SEAS, OBAMA NEXT, BioBoost+, GuardIAS, POMP, and ANERIS, the Summer school brought together 48 attendees from 19 countries to discuss and present the latest updates on cutting-edge topics related to marine research.

The presentations focused on showcasing the innovative methodologies and techniques developed in the mentioned projects, to address the global challenges faced by marine biodiversity. From the usage of Artificial intelligence to identify species, citizen science as a tool for collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) and the early detection of IAS, to the importance of accurate validation and curation of datasets. Interactive workshops complemented some of the talks, enabling practical experience and sharing knowledge among attendees. 

Berta Companys, a researcher from ICM-CSIC and a member of the ANERIS coordination team, actively contributed to the event. Her involvement included presenting the innovative technologies developed within the ANERIS project with a particular focus on participatory  science approaches for monitoring marine biodiversity and a practical session.  

The Summer School concluded with an enriching discussion between the participants and fellow researchers, strengthening future collaborations.