PLOCAN opens applications for the 16th edition of its International Glider School

Our member, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has announced the opening of applications for the 16th edition of its Glider School, the leading hands-on ocean-glider technology training forum, scheduled to take place at PLOCAN headquarters from 19 to 23 October, 2026. The application window runs until 30 June.

Now a firmly established fixture on the international marine technology calendar, the PLOCAN Glider School has grown into a benchmark program for professionals and academics seeking specialized, practical training on autonomous ocean observation systems. To date, a total of 246 students from 38 countries across five continents have been trained through the program.

The week-long curriculum covers both hardware and software dimensions through theoretical sessions, laboratory work, and open-water deployments using real underwater gliders and USV units from the main commercial technology platforms — including AutoNaut, Sailbuoy, Slocum, Seaglider and Seaexplorer — with a focus on the technical and operational capabilities of each system.

The teaching faculty is drawn from the world's leading ocean-glider and ocean-sensor manufacturers (NORTEK, RBR, Rockland Sci. Ocean Sonics, etc.), telemetry providers (CLS), and subsystem component specialists, alongside expert operators and end-users from the fields of ocean research and Blue Economy-linked sectors. This industry-academia integration is one of the school's most distinctive and valued features.

Reflecting its growing international profile, the PLOCAN Glider School is also currently integrated into the AQUARIUS-RI research infrastructure network, which provides scholarships for early-career technicians or scientists.

Prospective attendees are invited to submit their CV and motivation letter to gliderschool@plocan.eu by 30 June.