Background of Summer School / Introduction
This summer school deals with the most recent and innovative methodologies to assess and monitor wild insect biodiversity, by means of molecular and AI-based technologies. Participants will become skilled in cutting-edge monitoring technologies, including sampling methodologies and procedures, data processing, and morphological, molecular, environmental data analysis. The main aim is to provide knowledge on both terrestrial and freshwater insect biodiversity, particularly in protected areas. Field week activities will be carried out in the Apennine Lucano Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese National Park (Basilicata, Southern Italy), which hosts endemic and rare species deserving specific conservation strategies. Topics will span from Next Generation Sequencing analysis, including metabarcoding and environmental DNA analysis, analysis of multitrophic interactions and functional traits, AI-based identification procedures, and applications for environmental quality monitoring. Preparatory learning will include a series of preliminary online lectures by experts in the field, followed by field and laboratory experiments, adopting a multidisciplinary approach. Field week activities will be mainly focused on sampling and data collection procedures, data processing, and real case studies.
Hosting University
University of Tuscia (UniTus)
Venue
Online lectures (preparatory) will be held on the Zoom platform environments of the Tuscia University. Field week activities will be carried out in the Apennine Lucano Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese National Park (Basilicata, Southern Italy).
Physical mobility: Centro Studi Biodiversita DEB-UNITUS; Palazzo Ranone, Via V. Emanuele, IT-85039, Spinoso (PZ), Italy: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iVZYjo3XqiimJE5A8
Date
Preparatory online session: 22-26 June 2026
Field week activity: 8 July - arrival; 9-13 July - course duration; 13 July (afternoon) - departure
Participants
Max 25
Previous Knowledge
Basic knowledge in the main fields of Biology and Ecology is highly suggested, as well as in one or more related fields such as molecular biology, botany, conservation biology, insect-plant interactions, or topic related to global changes and ecosystem monitoring
Course Content
The course aims to bring together PhD and MSc students from different backgrounds (biology, plant ecology, entomology, biomonitoring, evolutionary biology, etc.) working on biodiversity-related areas and set them in relation to innovative approaches for wildlife and ecosystem monitoring and their conservation.
To take into account the expected diversity of students’ backgrounds and to ensure that they reach a comparable scientific level in order to fully benefit from the planned educational activities, the course will include preliminary preparatory lectures. Theachers will give basic seminars related to their respective areas of expertise before moving on to the most recent developments in research, with particular emphasis on the conservation of nature and biodiversity. The materials used during the seminars and relevant bibliographic sources will also be provided, in order to offer a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and its most recent applications.
Participants should be able to work with scientific literature and communicate in English.
The main topics of the course will be the following:
- Integrative Methods for biodiversity assessment, including NGS and AI-based approaches (e.g. sound recording and robotics)
- Metabarcoding and Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for biomonitoring in both freshwater and terrestrial environments
- Analysis of Multitrophic Interactions and Functional Traits in wildlife communities
Intended Learning Outcome (ILO)
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- compare and contrast different monitoring techniques to characterize entomological communities and more in general biodiversity in both terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
- enumerate genetic, morphological and functional traits of target organisms, and related biotic and abiotic factors to set effective conservation practices
- infer informative biological and ecological statistical indexes to evaluate ecosystem quality in both terrestrial vs freshwater environments and natural vs disturbed communities
- adopt integrative approaches to identify rare and new potential species for science
- actively contribute to draft a handbook of best practices for biodiversity monitoring in natural protected areas
Course Schedule
Preparatory e-learning (15 hr classes):
22-26 June (Zoom platform)
On spot:
8 July Wednesday - Arrival and welcome in PNALVN, Introductory session
12:00 pm Pick-up at Potenza rail station and transfer to the hotel (Viggiano, PZ)
1:00 pm Registration of participants
2:00 pm Welcome party
Transfer to PNALVN Headquarters (Marsico Nuovo, PZ)
3:30 pm Welcome session and overview to the Park mission and activities
Transfer to Biodiversity Research Centre DEB-Unitus (Spinoso)
5:30 pm Overview of international teaching programs (aims, outcomes and opportunities)
19:00 pm Come back to hotel
20:00 pm Dinner and discussion on the day's activities
21:00 pm Introduction to week's activities
9 July Thursday - Multitrophic interactions and environmental DNA
9:00 am Lecture on multitrophic interactions and insect-plant interactions
10:00 am Field activity: parasitoid-host interactions
1:00 pm Outdoor lunch
Transfer to Lago Laudemio Natural Reserve
3:00 pm On site introduction to insect freshwater communities
3:30 pm Field activity (multidisciplinary)
19:00 pm Come back to hotel
20:00 pm Dinner and discussion on the day's activities
22:00 pm Night sampling for nocturnal insects
10 July Friday - Insect-plant interactions and acustic monitoring
Transfer to Croce di Raparo sampling station
10:00 am Field activity (vegetation survey, entomological transect, Malaise traps)
11:30 am Field activity (orthoptera sound recording)
1:00 pm Outdoor lunch
Transfer to Biodiversity Research Centre DEB-Unitus (Spinoso)
3:00 pm Lab activity (Insect sorting and preparation, microscopy identification) with lectures on its utility and scopes
19:00 pm Come back to hotel
20:00 pm Dinner and discussion on the day's activities
21:00 pm Lecture on dark taxa and integrative protocols
11 July Saturday - Laboratory procedures part I
Transfer to Biodiversity Research Centre DEB-Unitus (Spinoso)
9:30 am Students' short talks: projects and link to fieldweek activities
10:00 am Lab activity (processing eDNA samples part I)
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Lab activity (processing eDNA samples part II)
4:00 pm Lab activity (MinION sequencing)
Transfer to Abetina di Laureanza Natural Reserve
19:00 Campfire dinner and discussion on the day's activities
22:00 Come back to hotel
12 July Sunday - Laboratory procedures part II
Transfer to Biodiversity Research Centre DEB-Unitus (Spinoso)
9:30 am Lab activity (spectrograms properties and discrimination criteria)
10:30 am Lab activity (semi-automatic insect imaging)
12:30 pm Lectures on research projects
1:00 pm Lunch
Transfer to natural oil streams and Agri River
15:00 pm Field activity (kick-net river sampling, multidisciplinary)
19:00 pm Come back to hotel
20:00 pm Dinner and discussion on the day's activities
21:00 pm Social event
13 July Monday - Laboratory processing
Transfer to Biodiversity Research Centre DEB-Unitus (Spinoso)
9:30 am Lab activity (insect sorting for water quality assessment)
11:30 am Summary of the educational experience and presentation of the Best-practice Handbook for insect conservation in PNALVN
12:00 pm Planning thematic workshops and data analysis
1:30 pm Farewell event
14:30 pm Course closing
Transfer to Potenza rail station
Online workshops (24 hr classes - 6 x 4 hr each):
mid-July to early September (Zoom platform)
Course Language
English
Course Format / Teaching Methods
Interactive lectures (online & on-site)
Fieldwork training
Case study analysis
Group projects and Discussions
Student presentations
Credits
ECTS Credits and Workload Overview
| Number of Credits [ECTS] | 6 |
|---|---|
| TOTAL Workload [hours] | 150 estimated |
| Student's own work [hours] | 60 estimated |
| Contact classes [hours] | 90 estimated (including online preparatory lectures (15 hr), on-site discussions and lectures (50 hr), online workshops (6x4hr)) |
| Exam [hours] | 0 (draft of two reports) |
Type of Assessment and Assessment Criteria
Assessment includes: evaluation of two written reports, the first one reporting a description of the overall activity, the second one focusing on a specific case study addressed during the online workshops that will be delivered by the lecturers of the various activities following the conclusion of the field week. Attendance during course lectures and interaction with lecturers highlighting the consultation of the provided bibliographic materials, will also be assessed.
Cultural Activities / Social Program
Welcome party and networking moments throughout the week (shared lunches, night events), campfire and social dinner.
Tuition Fees
Travel to/from Potenza rail station is not included and must be covered by participants. International students will be able to apply for an Erasmus + scholarship (BIP) in order to cover those expenses. No tuition fee required for ELLS students. For non-ELLS students, a tuition fee (400 €) is required to cover accommodation, travel and meal expenses during the entire week.
Additional Costs
.No additional costs required
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in shared rooms at Kiris Hotel (Viggiano, PZ) for the duration of the Summer School (8-13 July 2026).
Financing - Specific for the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP)
The summer school is structured as a comprehensive Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP; blended meaning consisting of an online and on-site part). Prospective participants from ELLS universities outside of Italy, are encouraged to obtain prior to applying 1. an approved Erasmus learning agreement and 2. an approved Erasmus grant agreement for the Blended Intensive Programme for the summer school. Admission priority will be given to participants who have obtained such agreements. You can inquire with your Erasmus coordinator or the ELLS International Relations Officer(s) of your university about the possibility of obtaining such a grant. Also ‘zero grants’, without available money count for approval priority. You can find the list of contact persons for each ELLS university here:
https://www.euroleague-study.org/en/r-20337-alliance/r-20346-support-teams/r-20469-international-relations-officers-iro/international-relations-officers-iro.html#Contact%20Info
Prospective participants of non-ELLS universities are directed towards their staff dealing with Erasmus programmes or student exchange.
Health Insurance
Participants are responsible for an adequate health insurance during their participation in the program. Participants should possess an EU health insurance card.
Visa
If support letters are needed, contact the administrative contact person below.
Application Deadline
31 May 2026
Link to online Application form
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/fwQH9iLYeh
Contact persons for scientific questions
Dr. Aleida Ascenzi aleida.ascenzi@unitus.it
Contact person for administrative questions
Prof. Dr. Adriana Bellati adriana.bellati@unitus.it