This is part of the series of contributions from previous community meetings that we release weekly.
We leave out the discussion and Q&A sections that follow each presentation to preserve the privacy and informality of our community meetings.
To join all of that, you have to be an iBOL Europe member. You can become one here: https://tally.so/r/WOMVgk

Sampling specimens for DNA barcode reference generation requires careful metadata collection, high-quality photographic documentation, and a laboratory workflow designed to minimise contamination. These elements are essential to ensure reference sequences are reliable, reproducible, and scientifically valuable.

In this online course, participants will learn the complete workflow for generating high-quality DNA barcode reference material. They will follow best practices for specimen handling and preservation in the field, including strategies to maintain DNA integrity and ensure traceability. The course covers how to accurately record and manage specimen metadata, as well as how to produce standardised, publication-quality images that support taxonomic identification. Participants will also learn laboratory considerations for handling specimens and sampling tissue in ways that reduce contamination risk. The last part of this training will focus on organising and preparing data for submission to the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD), including metadata, images, and specimen records, as well as managing tissue collections for downstream molecular analysis.

The maximum number of participants is 20. In case of more applicants, participants will be selected based on the scientific, educational and/or professional merit, motivation and usefulness of the course for the applicants. Results of the selection process will be announced via e-mail shortly after the application deadline.

Learning outcomes 

By the end of the course, participants will clearly understand the practical and logistical steps required to build robust DNA barcode reference libraries on BOLD, from field collection to data submission. This includes:

• Preservation preferences for animal, plant and fungal tissue/specimens
• Long-term storage for DNA barcode reference vouchers
• Registration of metadata in standardised spreadsheets and upload to BOLD
• Photographic requirements and procedures for (bulk) image upload to BOLD
• Procedures for sequence QC and upload of sequence data to BOLD

Target group/Audience

PhD students and researchers who will use BOLD as a workbench for their DNA barcodes and other sequence data. 

Language

English

Teachers  

Torbjørn Ekrem – Professor, Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

Tomasz Mamos – Associate Professor, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Poland

Sónia Ferreira – Researcher, BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning; CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associate Laboratory, Portugal https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/people/details/sonia-ferreira/

Elisabeth Stur – Researcher, Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

BGE+ is the Horizon Europe-funded project scaling up the use of genomics to enhance understanding of biodiversity and guide interventions to address its decline.

This is part of the series of contributions from previous community meetings that we release once per week. 

In the past years, we’ve had a fair number of contributions on initiatives, developments and updates related to DNA barcoding in Europe, which are surely of interest to the broader community.

We leave out the discussion and Q&A sections that follow each presentation to preserve the privacy and informality of our community meetings. To join all of that, you have to be an iBOL Europe member. You can do that here: https://tally.so/r/WOMVgk 

The next session will focus on the Digital Catalogue of Biodiversity of Poland and the Polish Biodiversity Information Network.

When: Thursday 28 May 2026, 15:00 – 16:00 EEST (14:00 – 15:00 CEST).
Lecturer: Prof. Michal Grabowski (University of Lodz, Polish Barcode of Life)
Language: English
Access: on Zoom via this link.

The first session dived into GBIF, exploring why data publishing matters and how it benefits the global research community.

When: Thursday 23 April 2026, 15:00 – 16:00 EEST (14:00 – 15:00 CEST).
Lecturer: Dr Salza Palpurina (National Museum of Natural History of Sofia; GBIF Regional Support Team)
Language: English
Access: on Zoom via this link.

The webinar series will continue with sessions in May and September. More info is available on BgBOL’s website.

eDNA^Europe is a nascent initiative exploring the feasibility of establishing a European society focused on environmental DNA (eDNA) and four Missions: 

• Build a European community of eDNA researchers and stakeholders
• Connect the European eDNA community with wider national, regional and global initiatives
• Promote technological advancement and share research findings and best practices
• Facilitate mainstreaming of eDNA methods into policy and practice

By bringing together the core group of the European eDNA Society and representatives of iBOL Europe, the Workshop allowed for discussions about developing the respective communities by aligning intents and objectives and giving time and space to the European eDNA Society core group to discuss governance and strategy of the Society. 

The Workshop was made possible by funds provided by the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, funded by the European Commission, the UK Research and Innovation Agency and the Swiss Confederation.

iBOL 2026 is co-organised by the International Barcode of Life and Chulalongkorn University.

“Nature walk, Flowers” by John Mukiibi Elijah on Unsplash.

Hosted at the NHM, the Taxonomython focused on the identification of  critical specimens from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. World-class taxonomic experts worked on critical specimens from the Wellcome Sanger Institute/UK BIOSCAN dataset. Those specimens either had no matches in the DNA reference database or needed expert verification to confirm their identifications.
The Taxonomython tackled two challenges: identifying specimens with no database matches (potentially new records for the UK) and verifying those “problematic” records where DNA barcodes had matches but needed expert confirmation.
The team of experts examined nearly 500 priority specimens and directly updated taxon resolution and accuracy for approximately 9,000 BIOSCAN records across the UK, encompassing 18 families of Diptera and one family of Hymenoptera.
These verified specimens will now contribute to improved identification accuracy for insects, advancing both fundamental taxonomy and applied biodiversity science.

The Taxonomython was made possible by funds provided by the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, funded by the European Commission, the UK Research and Innovation Agency and the Swiss Confederation.

Bringing together more than 30 representatives of the European DNA barcoding community, the Workshop allowed us to gather input and feedback to set up strategic priorities for iBOL Europe in the years to come.

The Workshop was part of a community-wide consultation process to develop the priorities for iBOL Europe. Such a process has included informal dialogue through community meetings and via the wider global iBOL Europe network; formal surveys were also undertaken with the representatives of the barcoding community from across Europe. This included online surveys conducted between 2022 and 2024, gathering input on priority functions of iBOL Europe and related issues, such as training and communications.

The process will conclude in late 2025, with the submission of a white paper outlining iBOL Europe’s mission, immediate goals, and strategic priority areas.

The Workshop was made possible by funds provided by the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, funded by the European Commission, the UK Research and Innovation Agency and the Swiss Confederation.