Environmental Measurements in the One Health Context
Discover how environmental measurements, laboratory investigations and biological tests can help us understand the links between environmental quality and human health.
About the workshops
The Medical University of Gdańsk invites students and doctoral candidates from ACE²-EU partner universities to take part in three practical workshops dedicated to environmental measurements in the One Health context.
Each workshop offers three days of hands-on activities, introducing participants to selected sampling techniques, laboratory analyses and methods of interpreting environmental data. The programme connects environmental quality with the health of humans, animals and ecosystems.
Workshops will be delivered in English. Participants will work in an international environment and gain practical experience without needing any previous specialist knowledge.
Choose your workshop
Explore the three topics below and select the workshop that best matches your interests. Each participant may apply for one workshop only.
WORKSHOP 01 WATER Water Quality and Aquatic Ecotoxicology Explore water sampling, chemical and microbiological measurements, and the biological effects of contamination. 20–22 January 2027 | WORKSHOP 02 AIR Air Quality and Indoor Exposure Discover air pollutants, particulate matter, indoor exposure and their potential impact on health. 10–12 February 2027 | WORKSHOP 03 SOIL Soil Quality and Ecotoxicology Investigate soil properties, contaminants, ecotoxicological tests and biological responses. 10–12 March 2027 |
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecotoxicology
The water workshop follows the process from sample collection to interpreting water quality and potential biological effects. The One Health approach provides a framework for considering aquatic ecosystem condition, organism exposure and the implications of contamination for human and animal health together.
What will you learn?
- Water sampling and measurement of physicochemical parameters, including pH, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen.
- Determination of selected cations and anions.
- Sample preparation for the identification of organic contaminants.
- Microbiological investigations and preliminary phenotypic identification.
- Assessment of luminescence inhibition in Aliivibrio fischeri.
- A demonstration of sediment-contact testing using Heterocypris incongruens (Ostracodtoxkit F).
- Integration of chemical measurements and biological responses.
- Introduction to environmental and human health risk estimation using exposure scenarios and teaching datasets.
From measurements to risk estimation
Participants will explore how chemical measurements and ecotoxicological responses can be combined to assess water quality and support the interpretation of potential risks to aquatic organisms, animals and humans.
Applications:
Air Quality and Indoor Exposure
The air workshop introduces participants to selected methods of assessing outdoor and indoor air quality. It focuses on the measurement of common air pollutants, the identification of potential exposure sources and the interpretation of results in the context of environmental and human health.
What will you learn?
- Introduction to air quality monitoring and measurement strategies.
- Measurement and interpretation of particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10.
- Assessment of negative air ions.
- Introduction to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde measurements.
- Assessment of selected microbiological air quality indicators, including mould.
- Introduction to ozone measurements.
- Identification of potential indoor exposure sources and exposure scenarios.
- Interpretation of air quality results and discussion of possible health risks.
- Overview of selected approaches to improving indoor air quality.
From air quality to exposure assessment
Participants will learn how air quality measurements can help identify exposure patterns and support the assessment of potential risks to human health. The workshop will also introduce practical approaches to improving indoor environments.
Applications:
Soil Quality and Ecotoxicology
The soil workshop focuses on the assessment of soil quality through physicochemical, chemical and biological investigations. Participants will explore how soil properties and contaminants can affect organisms and how laboratory results can contribute to environmental risk assessment.
What will you learn?
- Introduction to soil sampling and sample preparation.
- Assessment of selected soil physicochemical properties.
- Determination of selected cations and anions.
- Assessment of soil sorption capacity.
- Introduction to the identification of organic contaminants.
- Microbiological investigations of soil samples.
- Phytotoxicity assessment using the Phytotoxkit F test.
- Earthworm toxicity testing and interpretation of biological responses.
- Integration of physicochemical and biological data for environmental risk estimation.
From soil properties to biological effects
Participants will explore how soil characteristics and contaminant levels influence biological responses. The workshop will demonstrate how different types of evidence can be combined to support the assessment of environmental risks.
Applications:
Application and selection process
Each workshop has a separate application form and a limited number of places. There are 10 places per workshop and 30 places in total. The number of places may be increased if there is strong interest in participation.
Please remember
Each applicant may apply for one workshop only.
The Medical University of Gdańsk will forward the applicant lists to the relevant ACE²-EU partner universities.
| Step | What happens? |
|---|---|
| 1. Application | Applicants complete the online form for their chosen workshop. |
| 2. Forwarding applications | The Medical University of Gdańsk forwards the applicant lists to the relevant ACE²-EU partner universities. |
| 3. Selection | Each partner university carries out its own selection process and nominates one participant and one reserve candidate for the workshop. |
| 4. Confirmation | Selected participants receive further practical information and details concerning financial support and travel arrangements. |
The Medical University of Gdańsk coordinates the application process but does not assess, rank or select applicants. The selection is carried out independently by each ACE²-EU partner university.
Financial support
Participation is free of charge
Eligible travel, accommodation and subsistence costs, as well as scholarships, may be covered from ACE²-EU project funds, subject to available budget, eligibility criteria and applicable rules.
Accommodation and subsistence
The accommodation and subsistence lump sum is 300 PLN per person per day, calculated for 5 days per participant.
Scholarships
| Participant category | Daily rate | Duration | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | 75 PLN/day | 3 days | 225 PLN |
| Doctoral candidate | 125 PLN/day | 3 days | 375 PLN |
Travel support
| Country | Travel support |
|---|---|
| Lithuania | 1,000 PLN |
| Latvia, Austria, Romania, Germany | 1,500 PLN |
| North Macedonia | 2,000 PLN |
| Portugal, Spain | 3,000 PLN |
Important information
The support rates are indicative. Detailed arrangements and applicable limits will be shared with selected participants before booking.
Personal expenses and costs not approved in advance are not covered.
Practical information
Human biomonitoring and participant safety
Human biomonitoring topics will be addressed using teaching datasets. No biological samples will be collected from workshop participants.
Questions?
If you need further information about the workshops or the application process, please contact the ACE²-EU Alliance Office at the Medical University of Gdańsk.
Email: ace2-eu@gumed.edu.pl
The workshops are organised as part of the project ‘Strengthening GUMed’s institutional capacity through cooperation within the ACE²-EU European University Alliance’, funded under the NAWA programme ‘Support for European Universities’ (2025 call).