Since 1993 the IOC has conducted training courses on harmful microalgae. The purpose has been to improve the taxonomic and identification skills of the participants for research purposes and for practical monitoring of harmful algal blooms. 

From 2006 the IOC training in HAB identification has been offered within a new framework which gives accreditation. The present course includes now a practical exam at the end of the course with an IOC Certificate of Proficiency in Identification of Harmful Algae issued to participants who pass the exam. We know by experience that many of the more than 500 trainees we have had over the years have wished the courses to give accreditation, and in some countries, the IOC courses have become a reference for laboratories to be approved for carrying out regulatory monitoring for harmful microalgae. 

The IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, University of Copenhagen, Denmark is organizing the course. 

 IOC Training Course and Identification Qualification in Harmful Marine Microalgae 2025 

Course description: The course includes 100 hours of teaching and is divided into two parts. 1) The first part of the course is an internet teaching programme on the Ocean Teacher platform giving general introductions to the various groups of harmful algae; this part is mainly for self-study and estimated to 40 hours of reading. 2) The second part is a practical course in species identification (see tentative programme below). Part 2 includes 60 hours of teaching and a microscope will be available to each participant during the entire period. 

Dates: Part 1 will be available on the ‘International Oceanographic Data Exchange’ (IODE) teaching platform ‘Ocean Teacher’ from 2 months prior to the practical course; part 2, proposed dates for the practical course, 30 March – 10 April 2025. 

part one : 10 February - 10 March 2025

part two: 30 March -10 April 2025

Venue: IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, c/o Danhostel, Lejrskolevej 4, 3400 Hillerød. 

Language: English. 

Course lecturers: Dr. Jacob Larsen, Dr. Nina Lundholm. Enquiries may be sent to Jacob Larsen, jacobl@bio.ku.dk 

Price: The price of the course covers expenses as follows: 

Full board and lodging, this a package-deal and includes 

- Accommodation in single rooms including bed linen and towels, arriving to the course venue on Sunday 30 March 2025, check-in from 16.00, and check-out on Thursday 10 April 2025 at 10.00 

- All meals during the course, starting with an evening meal on Sunday 30 March and finishing with breakfast on Thursday 10 April, ice water and refreshments during teaching hours 

Teaching as described above and course material 

- Access to the distant learning programme on Ocean Teacher which will be available two- months prior to the practical course 

- Teaching material including hard copies or pdf-versions of the following books which will be distributed during the practical part of the course: 

Hoppenrath, M., Murray, S.A., Chomérat, N. & Horiguchi, T. 2014. Marine Benthic Dinoflagellates: Unveiling Their Worldwide Biodiversity. - Kleine Senckenberg-Reihe, Volume: 54, 1-276 (hard copy) 

o Lassus, P., Chomérat, N., Hess, P. & Nézan, E. 2016. Toxic and Harmful Microalgae of the World Ocean. – Denmark. International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae / Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Unesco. IOC Manuals and Guides 68, 523 pp. (hard copy) 

o Karlson, B., Cusack, C. & Bresnan, E. (eds). 2010. Microscopic and molecular methods for quantitative phytoplankton analysis. – IOC Manuals and Guides 55, Paris, Unesco, 110 pp. (pdf-version) 

o Larsen, J. & Nguyen, N.L. (eds). 2004. Potentially toxic microalgae of Vietnamese waters. – Opera Bot. 140: 5-216 (pdf-version) 

o Reguera, B., Alonso, R., Moreira, A., Méndez, S., Dechraoui-Bottein, M.-Y. (eds). 2016. Guide for designing and implementing a plan to monotor toxin-producing microalge. 2nd ed. – IOC Gudies and Manuals 59, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of Unesco and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Paris and Vienna, 66 pp. (pdf-version) 

- Copies of all lectures given during the course 

- Use of facilities, microscopes, samples, and cultures 

- Tuition during the practical part of the course 

certificates: will be arranged when part 1 and part 2 are completed + the feedback survey on the eLearning platform.

Feedback survey: At the end of the course, you will be asked to fill out a feedback survey. This information will be used to improve future courses. Note: submitting the course feedback survey is mandatory to obtain the course certificate.

Contacts: For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as the email subject.