Call for applications for the ICEPACT 2026 international course - Antarctic Marine Ecosystems

plakat: nazwa ICEPACT na tle zarysu Antarktydy, pingwiny, logotypy partnerów

Methods used in monitoring and researching marine environments (including polar and Antarctic environments), methods for tagging seabirds, statistical analysis of collected data, methods for handling biological material that may be potentially contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms (including the avian influenza virus), as well as the preparation of documentation related to spatial planning for marine environmental protection and the design of marine protected areas - these are the topics of the course, which will take place at the University of Gdańsk from 13 to 24 of July 2026, as part of the ICEPACT project. We invite both University of Gdańsk students and students from SEA-EU partner universities to participate. The deadline for applications is May 3 of this year.

 

The course will be led by an international group of lecturers, including:

  • Dr. Lucas Krüger (Chilean Antarctic Institute),
  • Francisco Santa Cruz (Chilean Antarctic Institute)
  • Dr. Grant Humphries (Oceanites),
  • Nils Vanstappen (KU Leuven),
  • Prof. Dariusz Jakubas (University of Gdańsk)
  • Dr. Maciej Markowski (University of Gdańsk)
  • Zbigniew Trusewicz (University of Gdańsk)

Course Topics

Participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in:

  • Methods used in monitoring and research of marine environments, including polar and Antarctic ecosystems
  • Techniques for handling biological material potentially contaminated with hazardous viruses (including avian influenza)
  • Seabird tagging methods, including the use of geolocators
  • Statistical analysis of collected data
  • Preparation of documentation related to the design of marine environmental protection measures, including marine protected areas and sensitive polar ecosystems

Course Details

Number of places: 24 (12 places for students from SEA-EU partner universities and 12 places for students of the University of Gdańsk)

Language: English

Funding

Within the ICEPACT project:

  • Travel and accommodation costs (including per diem) will be covered for SEA-EU students
  • Accommodation and per diem will be covered for University of Gdańsk students

Application deadline: 3 May 2026

Required documents: CV, motivation letter, opinion/recommendation from a thesis supervisor or academic advisor

Applications should be sent to: anna.panasiuk@ug.edu.pl

The course is open to students of first-cycle (Bachelor’s), second-cycle (Master’s), and third-cycle (PhD) studies.

More info: Rekrutacja na międzynarodowy kurs ICEPACT 2026 - Antarktyczne ekosystemy morskie | Wydział Oceanografii i Geografii Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.

 

logo NAWA, UG i INACH
Ed. DR/CPC; photo: dr Lucas Krüger