University courses

Marine Biology

Since the 2018–2019 academic year, Pelagosphera has co-taught the Marine Biology course for students enrolled in the Natural Sciences and Biological Sciences degree programmes at theUniversity of Turin , held at the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS).
The course, optional for the two undergraduate study programmes, has attracted very strong participation. Over the years, more than five hundred students have included Marine Biology in their curriculum.

Biologia Marina

The topics covered in the course introduce students to marine sciences, addressing physical and dynamic oceanography, plankton, benthos, nekton and marine mammals.
At the end of the course, an educational field trip is planned at a coastal location in Liguria.
The course can be attended in person and through materials available online, following registration on the University of Turin platform.

Many students carry out internships, bachelor’s theses and master’s projects with Pelagosphera researchers within the marine biology laboratory.
Through projects shared with DBIOS, the cooperative provides study and research scholarships to further explore the main research topics of the laboratory.

Marine Fauna Monitoring and Conservation Methods

Since the 2025–2026 academic year Pelagosphera has co-taught the Marine Fauna Monitoring and Conservation Methods course for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programmes in Natural Systems Sciences (SSN) and Environmental Biology (LMBA) at theUniversity of Turin , held at the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS).
The course, offered as an elective within both degree programmes, has attracted strong interest, with a substantial number of students enrolled from both academic pathways.

The course introduces students to the marine environment and to the principal techniques used in marine research and monitoring. Topics covered include the monitoring of Posidonia oceanicameadows and their epiphytic communities, zooplankton, hard- and soft-bottom benthic communities, and marine mammals. Practical sessions provide hands-on experience in a range of analytical and monitoring techniques, including zooplankton analysis, the assessment of Posidonia shoots, and acoustic monitoring methods.
The course can be attended in person and through materials available online, following registration on the University of Turin platform.