The Agricultural University of Athens welcomed students from across Europe as part of the EU-CONEXUS Minor in Blue Economy and Growth programme.

The Applied Hydrobiology Laboratory of the Department of Animal Science at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) conducted a series of in-person laboratory sessions as part of the course “Aquaculture” from November 24 to 28, 2025. These laboratory sessions were implemented within the framework of the short-term programme Minor in Blue Economy and Growth of the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance, coordinated by Dr Emmanouil Malandrakis and Dr Arkadios Dimitroglou, both Assistant Professors in the AUA Department of Animal Science.

During the laboratory training, participating students—coming from partner institutions in Lithuania, Spain, France, Germany, and Greece—had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in specialised fields of Hydrobiology and Aquaculture. More specifically, the training focused on:

1. Developing practical skills in fish anatomy and anaesthesia techniques, essential for ensuring the health and welfare of aquatic organisms.
2. Enhancing competencies in assessing and analysing abiotic water parameters, which are critical factors for the survival and growth of aquatic species.
3. Becoming familiar with methodologies for hatching and culturing live feed, a fundamental process for early developmental stages in intensive aquaculture.

Additionally, the Minor students were introduced to the fundamentals of gene regulation in fish and developed practical skills in hatching aquaculture live prey at AUA’s Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology. These successful sessions were implemented with the support of the EU-CONEXUS Plus project, ensuring that participants acquired a comprehensive understanding, as well as the relevant skills and knowledge, within the field.