The ELLS International Summer School on the new frontiers of entomology kicks off in Spinoso

From 8 to 13 July, the Centre for Biodiversity Studies in Spinoso (Potenza), part of the Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), will host 25 students from the University of Tuscia and six additional universities within the ELLS network (UHOH, EMU, CZU, BOKU, UL, SGGW). The programme will take place in the National Park of the Lucanian Apennines, Val d’Agri–Lagonegrese, within the framework of the international Summer School “Entomology in the 21st century: integrative molecular and machine-learning-based methodologies to assess, monitor and preserve insect biodiversity and their ecosystems”.

The training activity addresses key issues in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management, focusing on the use of advanced technologies for biodiversity monitoring and nature conservation. These include high-throughput environmental DNA sequencing, machine learning approaches for species identification based on acoustic and visual data, and statistical modelling for the analysis of functional traits.

The training experience, structured as an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), included a preliminary interactive online theoretical session held from 22 to 30 June, with the participation of lecturers and researchers from the University of Tuscia, the University of Milan-Bicocca, the University of Hohenheim, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

During the field-based component, students will gain hands-on experience in sampling, identification, and analysis of major insect groups in the park, ranging from pollinators to aquatic bioindicator species, contributing to a better understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of this fundamental component of ecosystems. The activity is coordinated by Prof. Adriana Bellati, who serves as Subject Area Coordinator for “Insect Ecology” within the ELLS network.