This course is open to master students having successfully achieved their first two to three years in Biology and to doctoral students interested in marine invertebrate development and evolution.

Originally conceived and  enthusiastically leaded for more than 20 years by the late prof. Volker Schmid, this course aims to promote both practical and intellectual skills. Throughout the course, students will make observations on living invertebrates, do experimental bench work, analyse results, and discuss recent bibliography. Active participation in the course will be essential.

In addition, communication skills will be developed, including informal interactions with instructors, collaborative work with other participants, oral presentation of their interests, written report describing the experiments and analysing their own results, debriefing of the course.

The scientific themes will cover comparative analysis of basic developmental processes in a variety of animal phyla. The organizers expect that the course will raise interest in invertebrate developmental biology and evolution.

Finally, this international course will provide the framework for exchanges between students of different european universities and has become credited as a Master Course Program, provides 6 ECTS (CFU) credits.