Members of the Zoological Society
My name is Hidetaka Nomaki from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).
JAMSTEC and,
France's IFREMER ( https://www.ifremer.fr/en ）、
Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands ( https://www.naturalis.nl/en ）、
Germany's Senckenberg Museum ( https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-am-meer/german-centre-for-marine-biodiversity-research-dzmb/ ）
and the joint research conducted by them, Ocean Shot "MEIODYSSEA" ( https://meiodyssea.ifremer.fr/ As part of)
MeioScool 2025 Japan will be held from October 6 to 10, 2025, at the Kumamoto University Aitsu Marine Station (Kamiamakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture).
https://meiodyssea.ifremer.fr/MeioScool-2025-Japan
Meiobenthos is a general term for microscopic benthic organisms less than 1 mm in size, and
It is composed of a diverse group of animals such as nematodes, arthropods (such as copepods), foraminifera, tardigrades (water bears), kinorhynchs, and loriciferans, and plays an important role in benthic ecosystems.
As an international workshop for learning the taxonomic systems of these biological groups, IFREMER has hosted MeioScool, which has been held four times irregularly since 2013 in France and New Zealand.
This will be the first time it is held in Asia.
As an instructor,
Dr. Daniela Zeppilli (IFREMER, nematodes)
Dr. Valentin Foulon (IFREMER, Imaging Technology)
Dr. Catherine Borremans (IFREMER, Imaging Technology)
Dr. Jan Macher (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Molecular Biology)
In addition to overseas researchers such as, and also from within Japan
Dr. Hiroshi Yamasaki (kinorhynchs) from Kyushu University
Dr. Shinta Fujimoto of Yamaguchi University (Loricifera, Tardigrada)
Dr. Yurika Ujiie (foraminifera) of Kochi University
Dr. Motohiro Shimanaga (copepods) of Kumamoto University
Experts in various taxonomic groups and methodologies gather to provide participants with hands-on guidance in observation, classification, identification, and research techniques, using live specimens of meiobenthos collected from the coastal areas of the Amakusa Islands (lectures will be held in English).
It is scheduled to start with sampling on a vessel owned by the marine station, followed by classroom lectures and practical training using microscopes.
The meeting time is on the morning of October 6th, and the disbandment location on the afternoon of the 10th is both at Fukuoka Airport, and round-trip transportation to Marine Station will be by chartered bus.
The participation fee is planned to be around 30,000 yen, which includes accommodation at the station from the 6th to the 10th (shared room for 2-3 people; those who prefer a private room should book their own hotel), lunch from the 7th to the 9th, the icebreaker, and the social gathering.
Additional information is also available on the webpage, but if you have any questions, please contact Nomaki at JAMSTEC ( nomakih@jamstec.go.jp Please contact ).
The participant limit is 15 people, and the application deadline is July 31. We will notify applicants whether they can participate by August 6.
I think this will be a great opportunity to learn about meiobenthos while getting to know international meiobenthos researchers and students, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could also share this information with the young researchers around you.
I look forward to working with you.
Nomaki
