Imaging Marine Organisms Across Scales (EMBO Lecture Course )

Modern imaging technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of biological models and are starting to be applied to marine organisms collected in their natural environment. This new avenue creates interfaces/synergies between structural, molecular biologists and ecologists, enabling mechanistic-oriented studies of non-model organisms. Yet, studying organisms in their natural context using multiple imaging modalities remains a challenge and specific technologies, sample preparation and workflows need to be developed. This course aims to bring together marine and cell biologists and microscopists at different stages of their career, who aim to unveil the morphology of marine organisms at different scales using multimodal imaging. By fostering training and exchanges among this interdisciplinary community, the course will show the potential of different imaging techniques. In addition to lectures, hands-on practicals with different instruments will further stimulate discussions among experts with freshly-collected marine organisms. The meeting, which will be linked to the TREC expedition and supported by both the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the Advanced Mobile Laboratory, is a unique opportunity to strengthen collaborative networks and push the frontiers of marine biology.