AqQua - Generating an Aquatic Life Foundation Model
Doctoral Researcher:
Asma Javaid, GEOMAR and Kiel University, ajavaid@geomar.de
Supervisors:
- Prof. Rainer Kiko, GEOMAR
- Prof. Kevin Köser, Kiel University
- Prof. Dagmar Kainmüller, MDC Berlin
Location: Kiel
Disciplines:
Keywords: Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring, Plankton Imaging, Foundation Models, Automated Image Analysis
Motivation: Aquatic life plays a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate and sustaining human well-being, yet most of the water column remains largely unmonitored. Distributed in situ imaging offers a unique opportunity to observe aquatic organisms from the surface to the seafloor, generating vast image datasets that contain essential information on biodiversity, ecosystem health, and carbon cycling. To fully unlock this potential, automated and consistent analysis across diverse imaging systems is required.
This project aims to develop a unified, AI-based foundation model for plankton and particle image analysis that works across instruments and relies on self-supervised learning from large volumes of unlabeled data. By enabling robust classification and trait extraction at global scale, the project will significantly advance aquatic ecosystem monitoring and support future large-scale observation campaigns.
