ECOWAVES Summer School 2025

ECOWAVES: Marine Soundscapes in the Anthropophony Era

26-30 May 2025
Darwin-Dohrn Museum, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy

This summer school is designed to offer participants a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the critical role of sound in marine ecosystems and the application of acoustics in ecological studies. Participants will explore the science of acoustic waves in seawater, gaining foundational knowledge in the physics of sound and the use of cutting-edge instruments to analyse marine soundscapes. Participants will learn how marine organisms use sound for essential biological functions and examine the effects of human-generated noise pollution on coastal and oceanic systems. It is a unique opportunity to join a growing community of researchers addressing one of the most pressing issues in marine conservation, preparing participants to contribute to innovative solutions and impactful research in this field. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on training, the course will equip participants with the skills to assess the role of sound and the impacts of noise on the physiology and behaviour of marine organisms, providing participants with comprehensive insights into marine acoustic ecology, technological tools, and effective research and communication strategies.

Target Audience

Open to graduate and PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers from the following fields:

• Biology and ecology—those who want to learn more about underwater acoustics for their research
• Physics and engineering—those passionate about marine science and environmental conservation

Theoretical lessons

• Physics of underwater sound and measurement techniques.
• Underwater acoustics and the role of sound from invertebrates to megafauna.
• State-of-the-art acoustic technologies for monitoring biodiversity and environmental changes.
• The impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine ecosystems and species.
• Communicating acoustic ecology to the public through educational tools and outreach.

Practical lessons

• Setup and calibration of hydrophones and recording systems.
• Identification of sound sources and species-specific vocalisations.
• Use of software for data visualisation and soundscape analysis.
• In tank experiments to record effects of noise on invertebrates.

Lecturers

Dr. Francesco Caruso (Anton Dohrn Zoological Station)
Dr. Filomena Ristoratore (Anton Dohrn Zoological Station)
Dr. Francesca Rossi (Anton Dohrn Zoological Station)
Dr. Marco Signore (Anton Dohrn Zoological Station)
Prof. Giovanni Zambon (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Dr. Salvatore Viola (National Institute for Nuclear Physics)
Prof. Lucia Di Iorio (University of Perpignan)
Prof. Lucia Manni (University of Padua)
Dr. Marios Chatzigeorgiou (University of Bergen)
Prof. Livio Favaro (University of Turin)
Dr. Virginia Sciacca (Italian National Research Council)

The ECOWAVES lecturers are researchers involved in the following projects: DIVES, eConscience, AquaPLAN, DeuteroNoise and KNOWhale, each one is essential to the development of the summer school.

• The Deuteronoise project conducted on-site measurements of underwater noise, characterising noise pollution across five different marine basins and assessing the preliminary effects of anthropogenic noise on selected marine invertebrates.
• The DIVES project aims to gather critical data on the behaviour and distribution of elusive marine mammals (sperm whale and goose beaked whale) in the central Mediterranean Sea. Using advanced technologies like deep-sea passive acoustic monitoring and bio-logging, the project will explore behavioral differences that may explain varying susceptibility to man-made noise pollution.
• The KNOWhale project investigates the acoustic behaviour and seasonal movements of endangered Mediterranean fin whales in the south-central Mediterranean Sea, a region with limited existing data. By combining passive acoustic monitoring, bio-logging and oceanographic campaigns, the project will identify key communication patterns, assess the impact of noise on intraspecies communication, and pinpoint critical habitats to support conservation efforts.
• eConscience – Art of Soundscape is a nonprofit association, a group of young researchers in the fields of bio/eco-acoustics and a sound designer with a strong interest in soundscape and field recording, with a view to their scientific and artistic exploration.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The course is open to 20 participants

Deadline for applications: 4 April and is now closed.
Participants will be notified by 15 April

Fee: €250 per person (coffee breaks, lunches, icebreakers and social dinners are all included)
Registration and payment is due by 30 April

APPLICATION FORM

Organisers: Francesco Caruso, Filomena Ristoratore, Francesca Rossi, Marco Signore
For more information please visit Summer School 2025 ECOWAVES or email: ecowaves@szn.it