A BIP on Marine Environmental Threats (MET-BIP):

The BIP on “Marine Environmental Threats” (MET-BIP) is a course focused on the main issues jeopardizing the health of the marine ecosystems and addresses them from a transdisciplinary perspective, based on the UNESCO declaration of the Ocean Decade (2020-2030) and SDGs 4 (quality education) and 14 (life below water). It is intended as a 6 ECTS course, coordinated by the University of Pavia (UNIPV; Italy), with the participation of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU; Spain) and the University of Azores (UAç, Portugal). In particular, MET includes an online virtual mobility component, which combines synchronous and asynchronous teaching taught by UPV/EHU and UAç (1 ECTS each), ensuring flexibility and accessibility to all course contents, in-presence physical mobility component organized at UNIPV, including multiple activities as described below. In all cases,
English is used as the main vehicular language.

How is the MET–BIP organized?

The virtual component evolves simultaneously to other curricular subjects during the second semester of the academic year, in which students develop digital competences, communication and time management skills, while working on subjects related to ecosystem health, marine pollution, biomonitoring, overfishing and fisheries management. Once the virtual online phase is concluded, the students from all three universities attend aphysical mobilityweek (4 ECTS)
organized at UNIPV and consisting in multiple activities that include seminars, lab activities, field work and workshops. These activities address multiple subjects such as climate change, underwater sound pollution and bioinvasions. Throughout the duration of the course, participants are immersed in aninterdisciplinary and multicultural atmosphere that promotes development of interpersonal skills, including active listening, multilingualism, and teamwork.
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Divided in three main blocks, the programme will take place in person at UNIPV, where training activities will be conducted in the laboratory and in the field, as well as theoretical lectures to support those activities.
Both UAc and UPV/EHU and UniPV will be virtually involved in the teaching programme, providing online lectures on ecotoxicology and fisheries, respectively. The blended format of the programme involves a combination online lectures and face-to-face training activities, including laboratories and fieldwork.

Maximum number of participants: 30.

All activities will be attended by a group of international students from the three European Universities that are partners of the project:  

Contact person: Prof. Agnese Marchini: agnese.marchini@unipv.it)

Contact person: Prof. Ana Cristina Costa (ana.cm.costa@uac.pt)

Contact person: Prof. Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia (maren.ortiz@ehu.eus)

The programme will be held between March and June 2025.
  • The virtual part will start on March 2025
  • Tentative dates for the presential  mobility period: June 9-14, 2025 (to be confirmed)
Students from all other Universities:
A limited number of places is available for students from other Universities.
Please contact Prof. Agnese Marchini (agnese.marchini@unipv.it) for details.
Please contact your Erasmus office for possible grants to attend this program.

Marine Environmenthal Threats is worth 6 credits (ECTS), splitted as follows:

  • UNIPV: 4 ECTS: face-to-face lectures and training: laboratory and fieldwork activities;
  • UPV/EHU: 1 ECTS: online lectures and training;
  • UAc: 1 ECTS: online lectures and training.

And obtained by taking a final (online) exam.

MET-BIP poster

What former students say about the MET-BIP:

“It was one of the best experiences I had at university and helped me to consider alternative career paths.”

“We could experience a lot of what a marine scientist does and we could understand better the subject of the practical lessons.”

“I really enjoyed this incredible opportunity to learn more about the problems we are facing right now.”

“MET-BIP has been an awesome trip through Europe (Italy, Portugal, Spain), which faces marine ecosystem threats.”

Reports of previous editions

Edition 1 (2023)

Edition 2 (2024)

Blended Intensive Program (BIP) MARINE ENVIROMENTAL THREATS (MET). 2nd edition.