Organisers: Luna van der Loos (Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden, Netherlands), Angélique Gobet (IFREMER, RBE department, UMR MARBEC, France), Simon Dittami (Station Biologique de Roscoff, France)
Description of the session
This special session will build on the HARMONY workshop, held 22–24 September 2026 in Paris, which brought together ~25 researchers from the seaweed microbiome community to work toward more harmonized and integrative approaches to seaweed microbiome research.
During the workshop, participants harmonized existing 16S-based datasets, organized a ring test to assess the variability introduced by methodological choices, and explored different network analysis approaches to identify broader ecological patterns across seaweed hosts, environments, and geographic regions.
At EPC9, we propose a follow-up workshop that will open this initiative to the wider seaweed microbiome community. The aim is to expand the shared dataset with additional contributions, further evaluate and refine analytical approaches, and use network and LDA-based methods at a larger scale to investigate general patterns in seaweed–microbiome associations.
The workshop will begin with a series of short presentations highlighting results and lessons learned from the HARMONY workshop (also intended for people who were not priorly part of the HARMONY workshop). This will be followed by interactive sessions in which participants will:
contribute and discuss how to add additional 16S datasets and metadata;
discuss and further harmonize approaches to data processing and metadata standards;
explore network and LDA-based approaches for identifying recurring microbiome patterns across hosts and environments;
collectively interpret emerging ecological patterns and identify knowledge gaps; and
discuss opportunities for future collaborative analyses and coordinated research.The session is intended to be highly interactive, with the emphasis shifting from presentations toward hands-on data integration, discussion, and collaborative analysis. Participants are motivated to bring their own data.
For whom?
The workshop is intended for researchers working on seaweed microbiomes, including researchers with existing 16S-based datasets who are interested in contributing their data to comparative analyses. Researchers at different career stages and working across different seaweed hosts, geographic regions, and experimental or observational systems are welcome.
How many participants?
We aim for 30–50 participants, with a preference for a maximum of 50 to facilitate productive interaction. If space is limited, the workshop could also be organized effectively with a smaller group.
How long?
Whole day (09:00–17:00)
The organisers reserve the right to select participants if there are too many applications.
Organiser: Izabela Krzemińska (Instytut Agrofizyki, Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Lublin, Poland)
Description of the session
The session would cover research on the use of algae in environmental bioremediation. Topics may include the removal of nutrients from wastewater, the biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals, the removal of organic and emerging contaminants, and interactions between algae and microplastics. Studies on the uptake, transformation or degradation of pollutants would also fit within the session. Work on algal–bacterial systems and other biological interactions relevant to remediation may also be included. Contributions dealing with wastewater treatment and other practical applications of algae in remediation systems are also welcome.
For whom?
The session would be aimed at researchers working on algal biotechnology, bioremediation, wastewater treatment and environmental applications of algae. It would be open to researchers working with both microalgae and macroalgae.
How many participants?
30-50 participants
How long?
Whole day (09:00–17:00)
The organisers reserve the right to select participants if there are too many applications.