This advanced course will take place from March 20th to 24th at the University of Aveiro and is intended for researchers and PhD students enrolled in programs where environmental monitoring and/or ecological risk assessment are relevant topics, as well as professionals in the field. The course is coordinated by Joana Luísa Pereira (CESAM/DBIO) from the University of Aveiro, Jana Asselman from the Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, and Navarro Martin from the IDAEA of the Spanish National Research Council.

Epigenetics is an emerging field in environmental assessment, as epigenetic changes can be seen as significant molecular events initiating adverse effects in different organisms. While epigenetic changes have been validated in the medical field, they are only beginning to be recognized as important targets for the development of biomarkers to enhance our understanding of their ecological impacts and environmental challenges.

This advanced course will be held in person at the University of Aveiro as part of the EU Twinning EPIBOOST project. According to Joana Pereira (CESAM/DBIO), the project coordinator, “Within the scope of our EU EPIBOOST project, the advanced course on environmental epigenetics in risk assessment is organized in conjunction with CSIC and Ghent University, comprising lectures and practical sessions delivered by the organizers and international guest speakers.”

The course consists of (i) theoretical lectures, where relevant concepts and techniques in epigenetics research will be presented and critically discussed, with a focus on environmental models and case studies shared by the authors with the audience; (ii) theoretical-practical sessions, where participants will have the opportunity to learn about widely used techniques for assessing epigenetic changes, including bioinformatics specifics and data analysis; (iii) participatory sessions focusing on transferable skills related to career planning and scientific communication, which are critical assets to support a successful future in the competitive field of molecular ecotoxicology and essential for communicating approaches, methods, and scientific results to different audiences (e.g., government, industry, general public).

For more information, visit the link provided in the text or the registration form.