The National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, which coordinates EMODnet Chemistry, recently conducted a survey to assess how much participants in the latest training course for data providers appreciated its different sessions and content, with the aim of making the new edition even more effective and interesting.
The invitation-only training course was held on 28 and 29 April in Trieste, Italy, to explain how to manage all types of data and metadata to organisations committed to providing measurements to EMODnet Chemistry. The course is a key deliverable of the current EMODnet Chemistry phase running from 3 October 2025 to 2 October 2027 (subject to renewal until 30 June 2029). All details are provided in this EMODnet news article.
During the meeting of the EMODnet Chemistry Project Full Group (PFG) (Figure 1), held on 22 September 2026, Alessandra Giorgetti, head of the Italian National Oceanographic Data Centre hosted by OGS, presented the satisfaction survey results.
Over 55 participants – 16 trainers/speakers and 39 trainees – attended the training course. Nineteen respondents completed the survey, one of whom was a new member at a data centre involved in EMODnet Chemistry.
Most respondents found the training course useful (Figure 2) and appropriate for their level of knowledge and skills and would like to repeat the experience. The theoretical session received the most positive feedback, while many survey participants would have preferred longer, more detailed hands-on sessions with more trainers.
Figure 1. EMODnet Chemistry Training Course: satisfaction survey results presented at the Partners’ Meeting
When asked whether, after the training, they expect to use the specific software - NEMO, OCTOPUS and Ocean Data View (ODV) - to standardise data and control their quality following EMODnet Chemistry protocols, respondents answer positively: 74% will use NEMO and OCTOPUS and 84% will use ODV.
Finally, the respondents suggested OGS strategies to improve the software, resolve technical issues and enhance communication.
The survey was just a drop in the ocean of information exchanges, brainstorming sessions and countless topics discussed within the EMODnet Chemistry PFG group meeting, which then handed over to the Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, even more lively! Forty-nine participants from 34 institutions in 23 countries bordering the European seas took part in the full-day online event. Although only representatives of the institutions composing the TWG were expected to attend the technical meeting, other partners could join as observers, and the vast majority remained.
Thank you to everyone who found time to complete the survey and contribute to the meeting. Together, these efforts enable the partnership to grow stronger and enhance our operational capacity. Your contributions have helped define a list of follow-up actions, which allows us to strengthen our commitment to supporting all EMODnet users. If EMODnet Chemistry is deserving of trust and consideration at European level and beyond, it is thanks to each and every one of you.
Figure 2. The graph shows that most respondents found the training course useful. Longer, more detailed hands-on sessions would be appreciated.