To ensure food and job security, food production systems need to be innovated so that they protect the environment, mitigate climate change and become more climate-resilient. This is an opportunity for seaweed culture which captures nutrients and CO_2, and does not need freshwater or fertilizers. In Ecuador, edible seaweed is being produced by small farmers, but a sustainable biomass valorization strategy is missing. Moreover, a good knowledge of the existing seaweed species is still lacking. This course offers an introduction to the diversity, taxonomy and biogeography of the seaweeds of the Tropical East Pacific (Ecuador), in the framework of the project Seaweed-based innovations for a resilient aquaculture and agriculture (SIRENA funded by VLIR-UOS).

Aims and Objectives

The course aims at familiarizing the participants with the morphological and functional diversity of seaweeds in an evolutionary framework based on the most recent (molecular-) phylogenetic insights. In addition, important ecological and biogeographical aspects of these groups, and their potential for applied research, will be addressed. Although not restricted to any specific geographic region, the course content will use case studies of the seaweed diversity of the Pacific South America.

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the participants will:

• know the scientific terminology used in the fields of phycology.
• recognize and know the most important groups of algae as well as their main biological (morphological) and ecological characteristics.
• have an understanding of how the current concepts of the evolution of algae have changed mainly through the use of genetic data during the last decades.
• understand the importance of algae and protists for the functioning of coastal ecosystems, and their potential for applied research (food & feed, energy, biomolecules).  

Target audience and prerequisites

This course is designed for researchers, students, professionals and/or policy makers working on and/or interested in seaweed.

The participants need to have a basic knowledge of marine sciences, biology and/ or aquaculture (BSc level) and proven experience working with seaweeds.

An intermediate level of Spanish and English (min. B1) is required.

Course Content

• Introduction to the importance of a seaweed economy and the SIRENA project (SVDH)
• The origin and spread of photosynthetic algae (ODC)
• Diversity and ecology of red algae (ODC)
• Diversity and ecology of green algae (FL)
• Diversity and ecology of brow algae (ODC)
• Seaweed identification and species concepts (FL, ODC)
• An introduction to molecular systematics (FL)
• How make an algarium (AM)
• Seaweed examples from Ecuador (SVDH)

Language of Instruction

English and Spanish

Instructors

English speakers:

• Peter Bossier, UGent, Belgium [PB]
• Olivier De Clerck, UGent, Belgium [ODC]
• Frederik Leliaert, Meise Botanical Garden & UGent, Belgium [FL]
• Sofie Van Den Hende, ESPOL, Ecuador [SVDH] and

Spanish speaker:

• Adrian Marquez, ESPOL, Ecuador [AM]

Learner Assessment

Learners will be assessed through quizzes and other exercises throughout the course. A course certificate will be issued to all participants who have attended all sessions and attained not less than 70% success in the assignments.

Course Format and Duration

This 15-hour long course consists of a series of (online) lectures delivered in live sessions and practical (demo) sessions and exercises.

Application Process

Period for Applications: 12 November – 2 December 2020. Please fill in the online application form on https://bit.ly/2IseOHM no later than 2 December 2020 (midnight CEST)

Contacts:

• ESPOL OTGA Training Centre - CENAIM: Dr Sofie Van Den Hende (shende@espol.edu.ec) (Course Organiser)
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

In case of need for further clarifications please use the contacts above, always using as email subject:

(Online) Seaweed diversity: a Ecuadorian perspective (Tropical East Pacific) 
OTGA/ESPOL/CENAIM SIRENA Phycology Short Course, 14 - 18 December 2020

Note: Priority will be given to participants originating from Latin America. UNESCO is committed to promote gender equality. Applications from women are strongly encouraged.

Costs

No tuition fee.

The course is organised as part of the SIRENA Project, with the support from OTGA.

The SIRENA Project is funded by VLIR-UOS (Government of Belgium) and implemented by ESPOL-CENAIM (Ecuador) and UGhent (Belgium).

The UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE is certified as a Learning Services Provider (ISO 29990:2010). The OceanTeacher Global Academy is a Project of IOC/IODE supported by the Flanders-UNESCO Trust Fund (FUST) of the Government of Flanders, Belgium.