Main sessions
The main core session lasts for 5 days, i.e. from 28th of July (Monday) to 1st of August (Friday) and will include lectures, practical exercises (microscopic analysis, computer classes, field observations), and tests. The lectures will cover topics related to aerobiology, plant phenology, climatology, statistical modelling, and other related fields:
- Aerodynamic and pollen sampling
- Pollen development, biology and function
- Methods of bioaerosols collection (labs)
- Basic microscopy, scanning the daily slides (labs)
- Pollen grains and fungal spores structure and morphology (labs)
- Practical plant identification (in the field) and taxonomy
- Health impact of pollen and molds exposure
- Climate change impacts on bioaerosols
- Modelling and forecasting techniques in aerobiology (air mass back trajectory modelling computer class, HYSPLIT, openair package in R)
- Basic statistics applied to aerobiology (AeRobiology package in R, computer class)
The course will be assessed by a combination of a written examination, a practical test counting daily slides and practical pollen and fungal spore identification from type slides. All examinations will take place on the last morning of the course. Participants of the course who successfully pass the exam will receive certificates.
