(Organizers: Jolyon Medlock, Willy Wint, Filiz Gunay, Alex Vaux)

   The workshop took place virtually on the 5th April 2022: 1300-1700 CEST (1200-1600 BST)

AIM Cost action has been working hard to develop guidance and information of the surveillance and control of Aedes Invasive Mosquitoes. There are many strategies that can be employed at a national, regional and local level, and by practitioners, entomologists and the community. One of the biggest challenges is how best to deliver effective communication to effect the changes in behaviour and best practice for maximum impact on the control of mosquitoes. Developing outreach strategies to engage communities with Citizen Science is key to mounting effective actions that lead to positive changes for improved health protection. Across the world, communities are challenged by the threats posed by urban mosquito vectors. Although there are many tools for surveillance and control, urban mosquitoes and associated diseases persist. As a medical entomology community can we improve our communication with the public? Are there ways in which we can deliver our outreach messages to deliver greater impact? With community engagement, is the control of urban invasive mosquitoes insurmountable?

The aim of the workshop is to expand the knowledge and share experiences in communication and outreach associated with Citizen Science schemes, with particular reference to Aedes invasive mosquitoes. This workshop will go beyond the world of mosquitoes and will have presentations from scientists in other disciplines and species groups.

The first session includes speakers engaged in:

• Communication of Citizen Science for invertebrates and wildlife recording schemes
• Engaging the public in recording other vectors (ticks) and strategies for targeting delivery of public health messages to individuals and communities
• Experiences in communication in the face of a mosquito disease outbreaks in North America.

The second session focuses on public health messaging:

• Experiences of invasive mosquito surveillance and control in Europe
• What can messaging around Covid tell us?

The third and fourth sessions focus on:

• How can behavioural scientists guide us to deliver messages that drive behaviour change?
• How do we engage the next generation in securing a future world free of invasive mosquitoes?

Programme of presenters available here...

YouTube videos of the workshop can be viewed below, they are split into two parts...

“How to use surveillance tools for an effective control" (Local Organizers: Antonios Michaelakis)

Location: Athens, Greece

28 June 2 July 2021

The aim of the workshop was the creation and production of 2 thematic videos on AIMs surveillance and control. Specifically, the first video will focus on the standard operational procedures (SOPs) for ovitrap field management and aims to provide a useful resource for public health officers and entomologists with limited experience in this subject, and will be develop in collaboration with the AIMSurv project (https://www.aedescost.eu/sites/default/files/2020-07/AIMCOSTPressRelease_AIMSurv29072020.pdf). The second video will focus on AIM’s breeding site identification and management for AIM’s control in urban areas. In addition to a version for public health officers and entomologists with limited experience on this subject, a second version for the general public will be also produced.

AIM-COST Action offered the opportunity for 4 young researchers (i.e. MSc/PhD students or ECIs¹)  involved in AIMSurv or AIM’s monitoring and control to participate to the workshop as a hands-on training opportunity. Travel expenses and accommodation in Athens will be covered by AIM-COST for selected applicants.

Candidates were selected by the scientific committee based on their CV and a motivation letter in English and not exceeding 250 words. Priority will be given to applicants from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs²). Gender balance and geographical heterogeneity will be also taken into account. 

The successful candidates have been announced, congratulations to:

Maria Bourquia, ECI, F, MOROCCO
Sonia Cebrián Camisón, ECI, F, SPAIN
Mihaela Kavran, ECI, F, SERBIA
Gegham Pashinyan, ECI, M, ARMENIA

Scientific Committee: Alessandra della Torre, Filiz Gunay, Angeliki Martinou, Jolyon Medlock, Antonios Michaelakis, Dusan Petric, Francis Schaffner 

¹Early Career Investigator: within 8 years after completing a PhD/Doctorate degree.

²Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the North Republic of Macedonia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey