The use of PlanktoScope in environmental research and citizen science

We are excited to share that our colleagues from the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN), successfully organised a workshop on the use of PlanktoScope in environmental research and citizen science. The event, held on 23 September 2026, was co-organised with the Oceanography and Geography Faculty of the University of Gdańsk and supported by the BioEcoOcean project as part of the Marine Organic Carbon Atlas Living Lab activities in Sopot, Poland.

The aims of the workshop were to:

• present the potential applications of plankton imaging (PlanktoScope) in environmental research and citizen science,
• identify potential common research directions in the Baltic Sea region and beyond.

The workshop was hosted by Artur Palacz and Dominik Krzymiński (IO PAN) and led by Adam Makatun (University of Gdańsk), who was invited to share his knowledge and experience on the use of PlanktoScope in environmental research. Adam started with his presentation, "Potential for the application of plankton imaging (PlanktoScope) in environmental research and citizen science", followed by a short discussion. Then the practical part continued, demonstrating step by step how the device works and what scientific results can be achieved. After this training, researchers from the IO PAN have planned to use it in fieldwork during an upcoming cruise.

What is a PlanktoScope?
The PlanktoScope is a modular, open-source hardware and software platform that allows for high-throughput quantitative imaging of plankton samples in aquatic biology and ecology. Its small size, ease of use, and low cost make it suitable for deployment in a range of applications, including the monitoring of laboratory cultures or natural micro-plankton communities. It can be controlled from any Wi-Fi-enabled device, and its versatility allows for rapid reconfiguration to match the evolving needs of the user. [Source: www.planktoscope.org]

To learn more about PlanktoScope, visit the PlanktoScope website.