Chesapeake Aquatic Viral Ecology 2026 meeting

Organized by Tapan Goel, Julie Pourtois, Stephen Beckett, Eric Schott | Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Baltimore | April 24, 2026

A second annual workshop, titled the Chesapeake Aquatic Viral Ecology 2026 network meeting was held in the Rita Rossi Colwell Center at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore with support from Maryland Sea Grant with the aim to catalyze interactions between regional aquatic viral ecology researchers. The meeting attracted more than 30 participants from across career stages and representing more than 10 institutions across Maryland and Delaware. The meeting was structured with 14 lightning talks and Q & A in the morning, followed by group discussions focusing on developing science, impact, and outreach in the afternoon. Learn more about the meeting here, and more about the CAVE network here: https://ChesapeakeAve.wordpress.com/.

Quantitative Phage-Bacteria Dynamics Across Scales

Organized by the Weitz Group | University of Maryland, College Park | June 23-27, 2025

The Weitz group is hosting an international summer school on Quantitative Phage-Bacteria Dynamics Across Scales at the University of Maryland, College Park, June 23-27, 2025. The school will bring together experts in integrating models, experiments, and field data to understand how phage impact cells, populations and ecosystems. The course structure will include (i) morning lectures bridging the gap between models, mechanisms and data; (ii) afternoon computational labs in multiple languages (R and Python); (iii) evening plenaries & poster sessions. The course will include thematic days spanning cellular mechanisms, phage therapy, spatial dynamics, evolution, and ecosystem functioning. Space is limited and we expect ~25 slots for students — applications required with more information soon. We will support local costs (including hotel accommodations) for all accepted students. Apply by April 4, 2025 with a CV, motivation letter and one letter of support via: https://bit.ly/phageschool2025-umd

Maryland Aquatic Viral Ecology Meeting

Organized by Stephen Beckett, Julie Pourtois, Tapan Goel | University of Maryland, College Park | April 16, 2025

Recognizing the growing number of aquatic viral ecologists across Maryland, we are developing a local professional network – Maryland Aquatic Viral Ecology – to share knowledge and harness collective efforts. Planned outcomes of our first meeting include professional networking to learn about local viral ecologists and their work, and discussing a proposal to host a future edition of the Aquatic Viral Workshop. The meeting was structured with lightning talks in the morning, followed by discussion in the afternoon. More details available here.