Our second Citizen Science Event took place from 28 May to 4 June 2026 on the North Sea island of Helgoland in Germany. We joined bioinformatics students from our partner University Bielefeld for a week of hands-on marine science – in the lab, on the water, and out in the field.
Students worked in the facilities at the Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) on Helgoland, preparing and analysing marine microbiome samples collected on the island at different locations – rocky shore and from a ship. The week stretched well beyond the lab. Students trawled for plankton aboard the research vessel Uthörn, surveyed tidal flats near the Lange Anna, and spotted seals on the dune. Visits to the Institute for Ornithology, the Hummerstation and the OPENSEA school lab completed a packed programme.
Marine microbiomes make up around 90% of all marine biomass – yet most remain unexplored. This event put citizen scientists right at the heart of BLUETOOLS’ biodiscovery work. Events like this are a great example of how citizen science can grow organically – and a reminder of the untapped potential of marine microbiomes for a sustainable Blue Bioeconomy.
