Summer school on Planetology, Exploration, Terrestrial analogs, Robotics, Astrobiology, Spectroscopy
Call for students/attendees will be open in February-March 2026
Vulcano, Aeolian islands, Italy May 27th – June 1st 2026
The PETRAS Vulcano School 2025 will be held from 27/05/26 to 01/06/26.
PETRAS is a summer school aimed at PhD students, but also open to master’s students and post-doctoral researchers. This is a result of a collaboration between researchers belonging to University of Perugia (UniPG), IU international University of Applied Sciences (IUBH), European Astrobiology Institute (EAI), German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), University of Cologne (UK), Italian Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italian space agency (ASI) and various sections of German Aerospace Center (DLR). The school is part of the training program offered by the PhD Board of the Earth System and Global Changes doctoral course of the University of Perugia (4-9 ECTS).
PETRAS Vulcano School promotes a multidisciplinary approach, involving volcanologists, geophysicists, astrobiologists, electronic/mechanical engineers and computer scientists to provide a 360-degree vision of the different skills needed by the planetary sciences community.
PETRAS Vulcano School 2025 is part of the Vulcano International Summer School initiative which has been ongoing since 2015 and has been funded over the years by Helmholtz Alliance Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments (ROBEX), EAI, Europlanet, ARCHES and iFOODis.
Program
PETRAS field experiences will alternate with thematic seminars in various areas of planetary sciences. Program is currently updating: confirmed list of seminars and activities follows below:
SEMINARS
Planets & Asteroids
- Alemanno Giulia, DLR: “Venus in the lab: bridging remote-sensing spectroscopy and laboratory experiments”
- Ieva Simone, INAF: “Basaltic asteroids”
- Ortenzi Gianluigi, INGV: “Volcanic outgassing and planetary atmospheres”
- Pisello Alessandro, University of Perugia: “Volcanism on rocky planets in the Solar System”
- Poggiali Giovanni, INAF: “From the lab to space: natural and synthetic analogues as the key to interpreting planetary surfaces”
- Porreca Max, UniPG: “Geological history of Vulcano island”
- Schmidt Gene, INAF-IAPS: “Tectonism across the Solar System”
- Schmitz Nicole, DLR-WR-GEO: “In-Situ Exploration of Mars with Perseverance and Rosalind Franklin”
Astrobiology
- Baqué Mickael, TU Berlin (probably): “Planetary analogs and life in extreme conditions”
- Cassaro Alessia, ASI: “Astrobiology and extreme environments”
- Geppert Wolf, Stockholm University: “The European Astrobiology Institute and Astrobiology Campus: Opportunities for Early Career Scientists”
- Urso Riccardo, INAF: “Astrochemistry and Astrobiology in the Lab”
Exploration
- Boerner Jana, University of Cologne: “Geophysical methods for geological exploration”
- Irmisch Patrick, DLR-WR-EDP: “Integrated Vision-based Localization and Inspection at Vulcano (Preliminary Title)”
- Iz Selim, DLR-WR-SEC: “From Tradition to Innovation: Analyzing 3D Mapping with Conventional and Deep Learning Methods (Preliminary Title)”
Miscellaneous
- van Erp Dianthe, University of Amsterdam: “Echoes in the Interface: A conversation on technological mediation, AI, and slow science (preliminary)”
- Breul Philipp, University of Cologne: “Modeling the Future Climate”
ACTIVITIES
Fieldwork
- Volcanological excursion on La Fossa Crater – M. Porreca, A. Pisello (UniPG) G. Ortenzi (INGV)
- Environmental Sampling and Analysis (sediments, fluids and biofilms): implications for astrobiology – A. Cassaro (ASI), R.G. Urso (INAF)
- Spectroscopy: on-field detection of minerals – M Baqué (DLR), G. Poggiali (ASI)
- Drone flying and IPS demonstration on planetary field analogues – P. Irmisch (DLR), C. Riedel (Univ . Potsdam)
- Exploration: robotics and geophysics – J. Boerner (UK)
Workshops/Panels
- WORKSHOP: Geospatial data products from drone imagery – C. Riedel (Univ. Potsdam)
- WORKSHOP: Raman and IR spectra interpretation – M. Cassetta (UniTO)
- WORKSHOP: Surface Spectroscopy on Mars with CRISM data using open source softwares – M. Baroni (UniPG)
… and more TBA
| Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) | Local Organizing Committee (LOC) |
| M. Baqué (DLR) J. Boerner (UK) J Dodiya (IU) P. Irmisch (DLR) C. Riedel (UP) G. Poggiali (INAF) T. Bohnhardt (DLR) A. Pisello (UniPG) G. Ortenzi (INGV) W. Geppert (EAI) R. Domínguez (DFKI) | A. Pisello (UniPG) G. Ortenzi (INGV) M. Porreca (UniPG) R. G. Urso (INAF) S. Ieva (INAF) A. Cassaro (ASI) V. Unnithan (CU) F. Sohl (DLR) K. Gwinner (DLR) |
Participation and costs
Admission is subject to limited availability (ca. 20 students) and will be selected by the organizing committee after the evaluation of two documents:
- a 1-page CV
- a one-minute video or 1 Slide/Poster introducing yourself informally and explaining why you want to participate.
The application window is not yet open; communication will follow (expected opening of the application is Late February/Early March)
PETRAS summer school for students/Phd candidates/Post docs is offered for free, thanks to the contributions of the involved institutions.
Lectures will take place at the Vulcano Blu residence, where the LOC can also accomodate students at a discounted price in apartments for 4-8 people with kitchen and bathroom. Accommodation costs should be covered by the attendees: maximum expected cost for accomodation is between 300 and 350 Euros thanks to an agreement between the organization and the residence. The organization will handle the booking and the accommodation arrangement.
The attendance between 27/05 to 01/06 (comprised) is compulsory to obtain a certificate of attendance. Lectures will start on 27/05 at 15:00, students are therefore required to arrive on the island on the morning of the 27th or on the evening of the 26th.
PETRAS 2024 group picture.
How to reach Vulcano island
Participants should be on the island on June 4th in the morning. Activities of the 4th of June will start at 15:00.
The island can be reached by boat from Naples, from Reggio Calabria or from Sicily: the nearest international airports are Naples (Napoli Capodichino airport) and Catania (Catania Fontanarossa airport):
– If you land in Naples, it is necessary to be there on June 3rd since there is a ferry (operated by Siremar/Caronte&Tourist) leaving from Naples’ central harbor on at 20:00 arriving on Vulcano the next morning.
– If you land in Catania: there are daily buses leaving from Catania airport to reach Milazzo harbor (2 hours connection). From there, several fast boats are available to reach Vulcano (operated by Liberty Lines) . If you choose this option, be aware that it takes averagely 3-4 hours from Catania’s airport to Vulcano island.
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Special thanks for Logo Artwork: Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli