Technical Manager: tba

International Phytoplankton Intercomparision (IPI)

The International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) test, run in association with the NMBAQC, has previously been run by the Canary Islands Harmful Algal Bloom Observatory (OCHAB), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain in collaboration with the IOC Science and Communication Centre for Harmful Algae, Denmark. The delivery of future IPI programmes is currently undergoing finalisation. The IPI proficiency test compared marine phytoplankton abundance and composition amongst laboratories and included two main areas:

Identification – in the form of a “Taxonomic Quiz”, this test is set up on a distant learning web platform called ‘Ocean teacher’. Participants need to log on with a username and password and answer the questions online.

Enumeration and identification – a number of preserved seawater samples spiked with phytoplankton cultured material or/and natural field samples are sent to each laboratory. The number and type of samples has not been decided yet and will be adapted to be relevant to the participants.

Details on the IPI, information about forthcoming programmes and associated registration forms can be found by visiting the website portal www.iphyi.org.

No 2025/2026 programme is currently planned.