In the first week of September, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD students from the Nature Research Centre (NRC) had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Summer School of the WIMANET (Wildlife Malaria Network) COST Action , held in Mohelno, Czechia.
As part of the teaching team, Dr. Vaidas Palinauskas and Dr. Carolina Chagas delivered insightful lectures on the morphological identification of haemosporidian parasites and methods for assessing the vector competence of Culicoides insects. Their sessions provided critical insights into the study of wildlife malaria and the role of vectors in the transmission of these parasites.
In parallel, Dr. Melanie Duc, postdoctoral researcher Alžbeta Šujanová, and PhD students German Liberato and Misa Shimizu attended the lectures, expanding their knowledge of various aspects of wildlife malaria research, including how these parasites affect avian hosts and their interactions within broader ecological communities.
This Summer School offered an invaluable opportunity for NRC researchers and students to exchange knowledge and experiences with young scientists and colleagues from across Europe, further strengthening collaborative ties within the wildlife disease research community.
Text: Carolina Chagas and Vaidas Palinauskas
Photos: Vaidas Palinauskas and Pavel Munclinger
