Work Package 6 will ensure effective external communication and dissemination of project outcomes from Work Packages 1-5 and insights from the case studies. This Work Package will maximise the exploitation of results – effectively sharing project outcomes, maximising their impact, engaging stakeholders, and fostering collaboration with relevant communities through various channels and targeted outreach initiatives.
Work Package 6 Deliverables:
2025 Updates and 2026 Plans
Key outputs for 2025 included the launch of the first massive open online course (MOOC 1) on invasive alien species (IAS) prevention, the first Annual Virtual Conference on IAS prevention and biosecurity risk assessment, two thematic webinars, and the first Summer School organised in collaboration with AZTI on the use of artificial intelligence and citizen science for monitoring marine biodiversity and IAS.
Looking ahead to 2026, planned activities include the release of two additional MOOCs focused on IAS early detection (MOOC 2) and IAS prioritisation (MOOC 3). The programme will also feature the second Summer School dedicated to eDNA and IAS, scheduled to take place in Bodø – Norway in June–July, as well as the second Annual Virtual Conference in September, entitled “Cost-efficient IAS Detection and Monitoring: Novel Tools and Citizen Science.” These activities will be complemented by further communication and dissemination actions to continue expanding the project’s reach and long-term impact.
We are looking forward to seeing the synergistic outputs of the GuardIAS project, seeing the different aspects of the project being brought together into tangible outcomes – and talking about the project and the outcomes from the different Work Packages to a wide range of stakeholders.
We are very much looking forward to collaborating with all the GuardIAS project partners to promote and disseminate information about their work. This is the great part about our role, working with so many people in the project, learning about their work, their roles in the project, what drives them – it is such a wide and varied project that everyday we are looking at a new topic.
We can’t pick out one particular part of the project, there are too many different aspects that are of interest. For instance, the technological innovations of Work Package 2 are intriguing, and the citizen science projects and outreach and engagement programmes that will be part of Work Package 5 are of interest to us as communicators. Overall, it will be great to see how the 11 Case Studies progress. And then again, it is of great interest to see how everything will fit together and work against all stages of IAS invasions.
We will be working with a wide range of stakeholders, communicating and disseminating all aspects of the GuardIAS project. It is our aim to create ripple and cascading effects through our work, as we communicate the fantastic work done by all GuardIAS project partners. However, we are greatly looking forward to seeing the work carried out by ERINN Innovation in Task 6.3, Knowledge Management.
“I am greatly looking forward to implementing the DEC Plan, working with my colleagues from Work Package 6 and with the project partners in the other Work Packages. The GuardIAS project – as part of broader, coordinated response to invasive species along with our sister project, OneSTOP – will be a critical driver of long-term impact against IAS. Such great collaborations all across the board.”
“The great thing about our role is that we are working with so many people in the project, learning about their work, their roles in the project, their specialist area of knowledge. With such a wide and varied project, everyday we are dealing with a different topic – it is a
fascinating project to be part of.”
Maria is a marine ecologist specializing in biodiversity assessment, ecological mapping and monitoring, and the conservation of marine ecosystems. Her research focuses on fish and benthic communities in the Mediterranean Sea, exploring their responses to pressures such as invasive species, climate change, and fishing.
She has worked extensively on ecological status assessment, restoration of vulnerable species and habitats, and ecosystem-based management. She is an experienced scientific diver, actively involved in the development of non-destructive sampling methods, including specialized software such as PhotoQuad® for seabed image analysis and Cavetopo for underwater cave mapping.
Her work emphasizes marine ecology through SCUBA diving, and biodiversity assessment using advanced tools.
Dr. Noirin Burke is the Director of Education at Galway Atlantaquaria Ltd, the National Aquarium of Ireland, where she has worked for over 15 years. Her job involves developing and delivering educational activities within the aquarium and through outreach.
Noirin works on both formal and informal education programmes and is part of the coordination team for the Marine Institute Explorers Educational Programme.
She is a director of the Irish Ocean Literacy Network www.irishoceanliteracy.ie and has been on the board of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group www.iwdg.ie for over 10 years. She is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums conservation education committee, and loves to go sea swimming in her spare time.
