The International Association for Aerobiology promotes courses aimed at the scientific and technical training of students, graduated and researchers in the field of aerobiology. The courses are subdivided into
| Basic Aerobiology | 9th European Course | |
| Advanced Aerobiology |
The Basic Aerobiology Courses have been devised as a result of the growing interest in monitoring airborne particles. The increasing number of national aeroallergen networks that have been set up has enabled scientists to compare procedures and deepen fundamentals of monitoring techniques. Consequently the need for a higher quality level of analysis and for a standardization of procedures has emerged. To the purpose, an educational programme to train technicians and laboratory workers has been brought forward and was started with a series of European Courses in Aerobiology. The first European Course was held at Krems, Austria in 1993. The next will be held in Portugal in September 2009.
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| The course was organized under the auspices of the International Association for Aerobiology and the Austrian Landesakademie. It included theory on pollen morphology and biology, plant identification and taxonomy, particle aerodynamics, meteorology and allergology. Some volumetric traps and microscopes were also available for practice. The lessons were given by F. Spieksma (Leiden, NL), G. Frenguelli (Perugia, I), S. Jaeger and Bobek (Vienna, A) with the help of M. Fornaciari (Perugia, I) and H. Nikkels (Leiden, NL). Researchers from 9 different countries took part in the course and in the end they had an exam, receiving a certificate from the International Association for Aerobiology. |
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| The 2nd European Course in Aerobiology was held at the Institute of Molecular Botany, University of Leiden. It was composed of introductory lectures on the various aspects of aeropalynology and, mainly on practical training (pollen trap operation, pollen identification, slide scanning). There were 23 participants, most of whom had little or no experience with volumetric sampling of airborne pollen and assessing airborne concentrations. The course tutors were J.C. Emberlin (UK), E. Dominguez (Spain,) G. Frenguelli (Italy), S. Jaeger (Austria) F. Spieksma (NL). The teacher-assistants were C. Galan (Spain), C. Matthews (UK) A.H. Nikkels (NL), M. Fornaciari (Italy). The Course ended with a qualifying examination, which all participants passed successfully. |
The course included the following topics: sampling methods, identification of pollen, basic meteorology and particle dispersal, approaches to forecasting, data banks and statistical analysis, the uses of aerobiological information, trends in aerobiology. The course organiser was J. Emberlin, the course team was composed by E. Dominguez-Vilches, C. Galan-Soldevilla (Spain), P. Mandrioli, G. Frenguelli, M. Fornaciari (Italy), F. Spieksma (The Netherlands), A. Rantio-Lehtimaki (Finland), S. Jaeger (Austria). There will be guest lecturers from the UK and course assistance by Mrs. B. Adams-Groom and Ms K. Harris. A social program including an excursion and a course dinner were held. Worcester is an historic cathedral city on the river Severn, lying in beautiful countryside near to Wales and to international tourist centers such as Stratford-on-Avon.The city is approximately 50 mins from Birmingham airport and 2 hours from London by train. Accommodation will be on campus at Worcester College (within 15 minutes walk of the city center).
The course included an introduction to aerobioloy, microscopy sessions and a final examinations.
Organizers of the Course were C. Galan (Spain) and F.Th. M. Spieksma (The Netherlands). 23 participants of 9 European countries became familiar with the basic methods and techniques used in volumetric assessment of pollen and spore concentrations.The lectures given by the international team of instructors included fundamental topics such as pollen structure and morphology; pollen development, biology and function; plant taxonomy and identification; basic microscopy in aerobiology; basic statistics in aerobiology; data presentation; allergy and pollinosis. Many practical sessions were dedicated to microscopic identification of the most common pollen in Europe and of a selection of fungal spores.
5th European Course in Aerobiology
Perugia, Italy, 29 May - 3 June 2001
The course included plenary lectures on general themes of aerobiology and its applications, and above all, practical exercises on pollen and spores identification. Two distinct practical sessions are organized: one session on recognition of the most common airborne pollen and dedicated to those approaching the monitoring for the first time, and a second session, dedicated to those who already have some experience, on the identifaction of less common pollen and fungal spores.Organizers of the Course were G. Frenguelli (Italy) and F.Th. M. Spieksma (The Netherlands).
6th European Course in Aerobiology
Poznan, Poland, August 7th - 13th, 2003
The course included an introduction to Aerobiology with practical training (microscopy) and a practical exercises on pollen and spores identification. Organizers of the Course were A. Stach (Poland) and F.Th. M. Spieksma (The Netherlands).
7th European Course in Aerobiology
Saint Clément les Places, Lyon, France July 2005
Organization: M. Thibaudon, G. Frenguelli, S. Jäger with many lectures (B.Clot, N. Dupuy, J. Emberlin, G. Frenguelli, C. Galan, S. Jäger, C.Lanzoni, F. Spiekma, A. Stach, G. Sulmont, M. Thibaudon, C. Lachasse). The course included an introduction to Aerobiology with identification of pollen and some moulds.
8th European Course in Aerobiology
Novi Sad, Serbia, July 12th - 18th, 2007
Lectures on the many topics such as aerodynamics and dispersal of airborne particles, sampling and analysis of samples, plant identification, pollen, fungal spores, allergy, basic statistics in aerobiologyforecasting in aerobiology, quality control in routine aerobiological monitoring. The course include practical excercises and examination.
The Advanced Aerobiology courses series have been created for people having already a technical knowledge of aerobiology, i.e. of sampling and identification of airborne biological particles. This series of courses are aimed at understanding the scientific principles behind aerobiological sampling and analyses, and at giving a solid background for the interpretation of aerobiological results. The courses deal with fundamental topics such as the principles of atmospheric transport, the principles of deposition and sampling, the methods of analisys, data presentation and interpretation . This series of courses is held biennially in different bio-geographical zones, and for this latter reason they include classes and practical activities strictly linked to the chosen site. The Advanced Aerobiology courses are organized jointly by the University of Montreal (Canada), the Institute FISBAT of the National Council of Research (CNR) of Bologna (Italy) and the University of Cordoba (Spain). All those interested in attending the coming course are encouraged to notify the organizing committee of their personal interest and/or work activity so that the course can be pin-pointed to their specific needs. The next will be held in Switzerland in August 2006: "Aerobiology in Alpine Environment".
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AA'94 |
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AA'98 |
AA2000 |
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AA2002 |
AA2006
Sion (Switzerland) |
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The Course "Advanced Aerobiology 1994", organized jointly by the University of Montreal (Canada), the Institute FISBAT of the National Council of Research (CNR) of Bologna (Italy) and the University of Cordoba (Spain) was held in Cordoba (Spain) on April 24th-30th, 1994. The Course was directed specifically to people with a proved experience in the field of Aerobiology. Its core consisted of five main topics, namely: "Principles of Atmospheric Transport", "Principles of Deposition and Sampling", "Sampling Strategies", "Analytical Methods", "Presentation of Data" and "Interpretation of Data", illustrated by J. Emberlin (UK), L. Syzdek (USA), P. Comtois (Canada), P. Mandrioli (Italy) and E. Domìnguez (Spain). Eight key note addresses complemented these classes, namely "Allergenic Pollen in European Vegetation" and "Aerobiology as a Support of Phenology" by G. Frenguelli (Italy), "European Aeroallergen Network" and "Data Dissemination and Use of Aerobiological Information" by S. Jäger (Austria), "Paucimicron Particles with Allergenic Characteristics" and "Medical Application of Aerobiological Research" by F. Spieksma (Holland), "The usefulness of non-Hirst Samplers in Agriculture Research" by P. Candau (Spain) and "Practical Application of non-Hirst Samplers" by J. Roure (Spain). The course was attended by a total of 18 students coming from several different countries (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Finland and Canada), and dealt, besides the theoretical classes, with laboratory and field sessions, involving the physics of the atmosphere, meteorology, mechanisms of diffusion and deposition of particles, use of aerobiological samplers and, moreover, with computer sessions on the management of aerobiological data, during which the participants had the chance to talk about their own experience and problems. |
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The second edition of this advanced course has seen 28 participants from 6 countries gather in the wilderness of the Adirondacks at the comfortable Sagamore Lodge for a week of exchanges in a relaxed atmosphere. The program included sessions on physical principles, meteorological and phenological influences on sampling, sampling protocols, samples analysis, data interpretation, viable counts , marine aerosols, long range dispersal, and forensic science. The course also included field experiments, a mycological excursion and a trip to the WhiteFace Mountain Observatory. The course organization was a collaborative effort of the Biological Survey of the New York State Museum (John Haines, Larry Syzdek), the FISBAT-CNR of Bologna (Paolo Mandrioli), the Universidad de Cordoba (Eugenio Dominguez, Carmen Galan, Felix Infante), the Université de Montréal (Paul Comtois), and the Università di Perugia (Giuseppe Frenguelli). LANZONI s.r.l. sponsorship has allowed the attribution of 4 scholarships to Paloma Carinanos (Spain), Fabiana Cristofolini (Italia), Caroline Duchaine (Canada) and Anna Guardia (Spain). |
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The third Advanced Aerobiology Course (AA98) took place in Riva del Garda, at the Lido Palace Hotel located a few meters from the shore of the deep blue and uniquely charming Garda Lake. Seventeen participants, coming from 8 different countries around the world were followed by 12 teachers of international renown and 8 staff members. The participants were sub-divided into three groups each one guided by a group leader. Four full and three partial scholarships have enabled participants from far away countries to successfully participate in the course. The textbook "Methods in Aerobiology" with contributions of authors, who have been teaching at the Advanced Aerobiology Courses was distributed to all students at the beginning of the course with the aim of providing a tool to achieve a solid background on physical principles governing aerobiology. The programme was focussed on outdoor and indoor measurements, including Hirst sampling, Rotorod sampling, Andersen sampling, insects trapping.Special care was given to the achievement of meteorological data thanks to the availability of the CNR mobile meteo station. Vertical profile measurements with a tethered balloon were carried out in its framework, with the involvement of the National Power Supply Board (ENEL). Half a day was devoted to an indoor bioaerosol investigation conducted, thanks to the efforts of the local organisers, at the nearby Armanni Hospital. The programme comprised also laboratory and statistical analysis sessions. A lecture on applied phenology, another one on the long range dispersal of plant pathogens, as well as a specific lesson on urban aerosol sampling given directly on the mobile station of the Local Agency for the Environment were part of the course. A one-day excursion in the Dolomites (Brenta mountain range) was included with the aim of introducing briefly the local flora and geology. The last day was devoted to the processing of the data gathered by each group, the preparation of the final reports, the discussion and evaluation of the results.The course ended with the farewell dinner and distribution of certificates. The organisers were the Institute FISBAT-CNR, Bologna, Italy (Paolo Mandrioli), the Universite' de Montreal, Canada (Paul Comtois) and the Universidad de Cordoba, Spain (Eugenio Dominguez). The Sponsoring Institutions were the Istituto Agrario S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, The Local Agency for the Environment, Trento, the Local Agency for Tourism, Riva del Garda and the Italian Association for Aerobiology. |
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The fourth edition of the Advanced Aerobiology course was held at Mt. Cimone, the highest peak of the Northern Apennines, about 60 km far from both Bologna and Florence on 9-15 July 2000. AA2000 focused on the atmospheric factors that govern the movement of aerobiota. The course extended over five full days, usually from early morning until late in the evening. Learning activities were organised around a field campaign of atmospheric and aerobiological measurements using both natural and artificial tracers. The class was divided into "Student Teams"; each team participated in each learning activity under the supervision of "Instruction Teams" (professional teachers and researchers) from around the world. The goal was to provide students with "hands-on" technical experience making field measurements with "state-of-the-art" instrumentation to address research questions and issues that are at the forefront of aerobiology today. |
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The 5th edition of the Advanced Aerobiology course was held in the Laurentides mountains area, one-hour drive north Montréal, July 30th - August 3rd. AA2002 focused on the advanced aerobiology analysis. |
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The 6th edition of Advanced Aerobiology Course was held in Valais in the Swiss Alps (1700 m). The course was attended by 26 students from 14 countries and was taught by Annalisa Ariatti, Carmen Galan, Scott Isard, Paul Comtois, Larry Syzdek, and from Switzerland Mathias Rotach, Jean-Paul Theurillat, Marut Doctor, Bernard Clot and Regula Gehrig. The course dealt with the dispersion and the transport of pollen in an alpine valley. Pollen, weather and phenological data were collected the year before during a four month measuring campaign by MeteoSwiss and the University of Berne. Pollen data were measured at six locations in the valley extending from 480 m to 2160 m. During the course dispersion modeling was performed for a day with distinctive birch pollen transport in Val de Nendaz. By modeling the dispersion, the students had to answer the question, if a person, spending this day at an altitude of 2100m would have suffered from birch pollen allergy or not. Not only the introduction in dispersion modeling was a subject of the course, but also the vegetation and the weather of the Alps, pollen production, potential of the source, deposition gradients, mapping of trees with GPS and GIS, geostatistical analysis with GIS and different case studies with practical application of dispersion models were a part of this intensive course. |
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