The diversity of the audience and the active participation of teachers, students, researchers and artificial intelligence experts shaped three days of activities in which research, education and citizen science came together in the same space.
Barcelona, 21 September 2026. On 17, 18 and 19 September 2026, Barcelona hosted the international AI Co-Fly event, a meeting dedicated to exploring the potential of artificial intelligence and citizen science for biodiversity monitoring and the genomics of adaptation.
The three-day event brought together an especially diverse audience: secondary school teachers and students, university lecturers and students, leading researchers, specialists in artificial intelligence and biodiversity, and professionals working in science communication and citizen science from different parts of Spain and other European countries. This diversity enabled people who usually work in different fields (from data science to evolutionary biology and educational cooperativism) to share and exchange questions, tools, and valuable experiences around a common challenge: how to incorporate artificial intelligence into biodiversity research and monitoring in a useful, critical, participatory, and accessible way for society.
From genomics to smart cameras for observing insects
How can artificial intelligence help identify species? What role does the public play in generating scientific knowledge? How can genomics, computer vision and large-scale data analysis be combined to improve our understanding of how living organisms adapt to environmental change?
Over a day and a half, the AI Co-Fly programme explored artificial intelligence from a wide range of perspectives: its possibilities and limitations in genomic research; its ethical and social implications; the use of computer vision and machine learning to identify and monitor insects; disease-vector surveillance; advanced computing applied to biological and environmental data; and the integration of these technologies into educational and citizen science projects.
Rather than presenting AI solely as a new technological tool, the different sessions also provided an opportunity to discuss its limitations, biases, social implications and responsible use, as well as the need to combine technology, scientific knowledge and citizen participation.
One of the main themes of the event was the use of AI in the genomics of adaptation, a field that examines how species respond evolutionarily to factors such as climate change, urbanisation and ecosystem disruption. Another major focus was artificial intelligence applied to biodiversity monitoring, exploring how tools such as computer vision, drones and large-scale computing can transform the identification and monitoring of species. These new tools can accelerate the analysis of large volumes of data, detect biological patterns that were difficult to identify only a few years ago, and enable more continuous and efficient biodiversity monitoring, opening up new opportunities for research and conservation.
Researchers from institutions including the Institut Botànic de Barcelona (CSIC-CMCNB), Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF), Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de València and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Natural History Museum, together with members of the European INSECT AI COST Action network, shared their projects and experiences with the audience.
The audience response was very positive, both during the presentations and throughout the discussions, demonstrations and participatory activities. Researchers, speakers and invited collaborators particularly highlighted the interest and engagement of participants, while teachers involved in the Melanogaster Catch The Fly! (MCTF) network highly valued the opportunity to engage directly with researchers and projects working at the forefront of their fields and to explore ways of bringing some of this knowledge into their educational centres.
Citizen science as a tool for generating scientific knowledge
AI Co-Fly also placed a strong focus on citizen science as a key tool for expanding the capacity to observe and generate scientific data.
The event showcased experiences in which students, teachers and volunteers actively collaborated in the collection, classification and analysis of biodiversity data, contributing to international research on biological adaptation and global change.
The activities presented real-world examples of collaboration between citizens and the scientific community, demonstrating how public participation can contribute to addressing complex scientific questions and generating valuable information for research and conservation.
These topics were addressed by experts including Josefa González (Institut Botànic de Barcelona, CSIC-CMCNB), Roberto Torres (LCATM), Sebastián Jara (software and technology developer) and Mihai Corneliu (INSECT AI, BOSCH).
Kit for Kids: designing technology with its users
One of the most experimental strands of the event centred on Kit for Kids, an initiative developed by INSECT AI that aims to create accessible educational tools enabling children and young people to engage with insect research, biodiversity monitoring and artificial intelligence.
The process began on 17 September at Ateneu de Fabricació La Fàbrica del Sol, with an international working and co-creation session that brought together European specialists in artificial intelligence, image recognition, insect monitoring, education, digital fabrication, citizen science and science communication. The goal was to move from concept to prototype and test the tools with potential users.
Over the three days, members of INSECT AI were able to test and discuss the project from different perspectives. Teachers contributed their experience and insights into the real needs of educational centres and the integration of these types of tools into the classroom. Upper-secondary students were able to handle the prototypes and take part in user-experience testing, providing feedback on aspects such as assembly, comprehension and ease of use.
Finally, during Saturday’s session at the Institut Botànic de Barcelona, the work was brought to another of its key audiences: families and children, who had the opportunity to play, experiment and test the insect-monitoring and artificial intelligence tools currently being developed.
Bringing together these different profiles made it possible to gather insights from scientific, educational and user perspectives, turning the event into a genuine co-creation space, where tools are not simply presented to the public but developed and improved through their participation.
Teachers as active participants
In addition to its scientific dimension, AI Co-Fly brought artificial intelligence and scientific knowledge closer to students and teachers, positioning educators not only as recipients of knowledge but also as generators and disseminators of experiences and methodologies.
Teachers involved in MCTF took part as speakers, presenting concrete examples of how artificial intelligence can be integrated into science education. Among them, José Luis Olmo and Ana Belén Yuste presented practical examples of how AI tools can be incorporated into classroom-based scientific activities. (Melanogaster Catch The Fly)
Meanwhile, Carmen Arboledas, from CES Ramón y Cajal in Granada, explored the relationship between cooperativism and citizen science through the experience developed within MCTF, highlighting the value of cooperation in generating knowledge and the potential of collective projects to foster participation, shared responsibility and the development of more inclusive, open and democratic communities among young people.
This reflection took on particular significance in the context of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, whose celebration and legacy continue to provide a framework for highlighting the role of cooperation and collective participation in fields such as education and citizen science.
The aim of these sessions was to encourage new scientific and technological vocations, while also facilitating access for students and teachers to tools that are already transforming numerous areas of research.
A growing community
Beyond the talks and demonstrations, one of the main outcomes of AI Co-FLY was the exchange between communities that do not always have the opportunity to meet in the same space.
Conversations between researchers, teachers, students, technology specialists, science communicators and members of European networks made it possible to establish new connections, share needs and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
AI Co-FLY thus continues the work developed through Melanogaster Catch The Fly!, an international citizen science project focused on studying biological adaptation through genomics, bioinformatics and citizen participation, which has connected students, teachers, researchers and local communities since 2016.
The aim following these sessions is precisely to continue building this community, creating new spaces where research, education, technology and citizens can come together and work collaboratively, and where emerging tools such as artificial intelligence can be explored not only in the laboratory, but also in classrooms and throughout society.
About AI Co-Fly
AI Co-Fly is an outreach, training and innovation initiative exploring the applications of artificial intelligence in scientific research, biodiversity and citizen science. The project promotes collaboration between researchers, students, teachers and citizens to develop new tools and methodologies that contribute to the study and conservation of ecosystems. The participation of these networks made it possible to showcase some of the most innovative projects currently being developed in Europe at the intersection of biodiversity, artificial intelligence and citizen participation.
More information: AI Co-Fly
AI Co-FLY is developed within the framework of the Melanogaster Catch The Fly! (MCTF) project, led by the Evolutionary and Functional Genomics Laboratory (González Lab) at the Institut Botànic de Barcelona (CSIC-CMCNB), the science communication association La Ciència al Teu Món, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), DrosEU, the INSECT AI COST Action, Barcelona City Council, and the INNOCAM programme of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha.
