# WGFAST 2026 - Wageningen, The Netherlands

**URL:** <https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194>\
**Category:** Conferences / Workshops\
**Tags:** wgfast\
**Created:** [February 11, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194 "2026-02-11T03:01:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/1 "2026-02-11T03:01:53Z")

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The WGFAST meeting is fast approaching!

Thank you to everyone who completed the initial registration questionnaire. We now invite all participants to **[submit an abstract](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxUHkso-A_pyclQ4zAyOGR-1KM0Oo2iWJ1QR-kR9vfS7dDqA/viewform?usp=header)** for either a poster or an oral presentation, and to sign up for the workshops taking place ahead of the main event.

**[Abstract submission deadline: 6 March](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxUHkso-A_pyclQ4zAyOGR-1KM0Oo2iWJ1QR-kR9vfS7dDqA/viewform?usp=header)**

Participants who registered for the mentor/mentee program will receive a separate email with further details soon.

Please note that the **WGFAST main meeting runs Monday 20th of April through Friday 24th of April 2026** , with **Friday reserved for WGFAST business**.

* * *

**Workshop Schedule**

**Saturday, 18 April**  
9:00-12:00 - echopype Hackathon (Part 1) - Wu-Jung  
13:00-17:00 - AI Workshop (Part 1) - Benoit

**Sunday, 19 April**  
9:00-12:00 -echoSMS Datastore and Model Selection - Gavin & Mike  
13:00-14:00 - GOATS - Ben  
14:00-16:00 - Discussion on Data Processing Pipelines/Workflows and Data Levels - Wu-Jung & Beth  
16:00-18:00 - AI Workshop (Part 2) - Benoit

* * *

**Accommodation and Dinner**

Information about recommended accommodation options and the conference dinner will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all there!

* * *

**Workshop Details**

**[echopype](https://echopype.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) Workshop**

Bring your own data and tell us about your needs. This hands-on workshop aims to demonstrate what is currently possible within the echopype environment, identify community needs, and explore how you can contribute to further development.

* * *

**AI Workshop – Background**

Large amounts of split-beam EK60/EK80 CW data are collected annually and are also available historically. This has fostered the development of frameworks for efficient data pre-processing and AI-based data processing (segmentation and classification) across the WGFAST community. Several pipelines are now well developed and already used at scale.

This workshop will provide hands-on demonstrations using selected datasets to share experience with different pipelines, improve accessibility, and encourage interoperability. A longer-term goal is to evaluate AI-based processing against classical approaches under different conditions to better understand the strengths and limitations of AI methods.

**Workshop objectives:**

- Align with standards (e.g., data format, annotations)

- Share experience with frameworks for data preparation, pre-processing, and AI data processing

- Compare segmentation and classification performance across frameworks using a benchmarking dataset (AI methods as the focus, with deterministic approaches as baseline)

**Pipelines considered:**

- Echopype

- LSSS/CRIMAC

- Ifremer

**Proposed timeline:**

- Feb–Mar (online, core group): framework presentations and workshop planning

- WGFAST 2026 (2 half-days)

- 
  - Open session: overview, scope, and community discussion

  - Core group: hands-on hackathon session

* * *

**[echoSMS](https://github.com/ices-tools-dev/echoSMs) – Datastore and Model Selection**

Explore the echoSMS package for target strength modelling, with special focus on the Datastore and model selection. This workshop follows up on previous echoSMS workshops and hackathons. Bring your own shapes, questions, and code.

* * *

**GOATS**

This session continues discussions from the GOATS workshop in 2025, working toward a comprehensive global assessment of Target Strength (TS) data for fish and invertebrates. The goal is to review and synthesize existing research to improve understanding, accessibility, and application across diverse user groups.

* * *

**Discussion on Data Processing Pipelines, Workflows, and Data Levels**

This session will focus on currently operable processing pipelines, workflows, and data levels. Interoperability, shareability, and transparency would benefit from clearer community definitions of pipelines and data levels. Let’s discuss how we can move toward more standardized and interoperable definitions. [See here](https://echolevels.readthedocs.io/en/latest/levels_proposed.html)for a previously proposed level definition.

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**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/2 "2026-02-11T03:02:46Z")

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**Hotel Recommendations:**

- WICC ([http://hotelreehorst.nl/](http://hotelreehorst.nl/)). 30 mins by bus, 35 mins walk.

- Hotel de Wageningsche Berg ([https://www.hoteldewageningscheberg.nl/](https://www.hoteldewageningscheberg.nl/nl/?utm_campaign=F83-hoteldewageningscheberg_business-listening-maps&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google-mijn-bedrijf)). 40 mins with 2x bus and some walk.

- 4\*\*\*\* Hotel run

- by students: [https://hoteldenieuwewereld.nl/overnachten/](https://hoteldenieuwewereld.nl/overnachten/) it’s either a 36 min walk from campus, or a single bus with some walking (16 min in total). They have 16 rooms only.

- Rheehorst in Ede ([http://hotelreehorst.nl/](http://hotelreehorst.nl/)). 30 mins by bus.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/3 "2026-02-11T03:04:25Z")

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**Getting to Wagenignen:**

From Schipol airport (Amsterdam) the easiest option is to catch a train to Ede-Wagening. There are direct trains running every 30 min (taking 1 hr). For planning, it is best to use the NS Journey Planner [https://www.ns.nl/en/journeyplanner/#/](https://www.ns.nl/en/journeyplanner/#/)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/soundsphere/original/1X/b0d07e978d4c9bd0d34102a3bf78be29b0e3e4c8.png)

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**Author:** ![GeoffMatt](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/geoffmatt/32/24_2.png) [@GeoffMatt](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/GeoffMatt)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/4 "2026-02-11T23:33:40Z")

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Also worth noting that the 27th is Kings Day in the Netherlands, so there is an associated madness when it comes to hotels and travel on that weekend

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**Author:** ![jchawarski](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/jchawarski/32/6_2.png) [@jchawarski](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/jchawarski)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 7:50am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/5 "2026-02-13T07:50:49Z")

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Hi @Sven , could you please provide the address where the conference will take place? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![roottwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@roottwo](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/roottwo)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/6 "2026-03-05T16:18:40Z")

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Hi Jules and Sven-

I’d love to know the address as well if either of you have it-

Thanks,

Rebecca

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**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/7 "2026-03-05T16:30:32Z")

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We still don’t know the exact address as we are waiting for a confirmation of the room but it will be on the university of Wageningen campus [Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/79WNGb9zKqprBE6N8)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![roottwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@roottwo](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/roottwo)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/8 "2026-03-05T16:32:43Z")

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I appreciate it - thank you!

RT

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/9 "2026-03-25T13:42:06Z")

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More Hotel options:

[https://www.nolintbosch.nl/](https://www.nolintbosch.nl/) (~90 euros per night) Public transport is however very inconvenient from here, so I would get a OV (public transport) bike for the period. It’s a 17 min bike ride to campus from this hotel

[https://www.paviljoen.nl/](https://www.paviljoen.nl/) (~116 euros per night) 40 min with public transport

Other options will be further away.

[Hotel Reehorst](https://www.hotelreehorst.nl/) in Ede still has quite some rooms available that are not crazy expensive (~113 euros per night)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 8:39am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/10 "2026-03-31T08:39:33Z")

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Lunch options during the week:

| Restaurants | Walking time from Aurora (Monday-Friday) | Opening hour s |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora (just a coffee bar) | 0 min | 09:00-14:00/1 5:00 |
| Forum restaurant | 9 min | 11:0 0-14:00 |
| (first floor, above ground level) | | |
| Orion restauran t | 9 min | 11:30-14:00 |
| (ground floor) | | |
| Impulse restaurant | 4 min | 11:30-13:30 |
| Jimmy ’s Pasta & Pizza | 6 min | 11:0 0-20:00 |
| Subway | 6 min | 09:30-19:00 |
| Antalya 07 (Kebab) | 6 min | 10:30-20:00 |
| Eastern express Restaurant | 6 min | 11:00- 20:00 |
| Unilever restaurant | 10 min | |
| Omnia (fancy, and might take long) | 13 min | 10:00 -17:00/19:30 |
| | | |
| Supermarkets | | |
| | Albert Heijn to go (mini supermarket) | 6 min |
| Jumbo (large supermarket) | 14 min | 08:00-21:00 |

Lunch options weekend:

| Restaurants | Walking time from Forum (Saturday-Sunday) | Opening hour s |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forum (just a coffee bar, ground floor) | 0 min | 12:00-1 6:00 |
| Jimmy’s Pasta & Pizza | 6 min | Saturday closed, Sunday: 11:00-20:00 |
| | Subw ay | 6 min |
| Eastern express Resta urant | 6 min | Saturday closed, Sunday: 11:00-20:00 |
| | | |
| Supermarkets | | |
| Jumbo (large supermarket) | 15 min | 08:00-21:00 |

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sven](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/sven/32/22_2.png) [@Sven](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/Sven)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 11:33am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/11 "2026-04-08T11:33:50Z")

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## **Parking on campus:**

There is free on site parking:

For the workshops on the weekend (closest to Forum): P1 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/AtBKny3zYH6JsTFW9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AtBKny3zYH6JsTFW9)

During the week (closest to Aurora, if these are full go for P1): P2: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/7F7LUvBBVVuXzeoe6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7F7LUvBBVVuXzeoe6) and P3 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/78GqUeSFkTBggXgF8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/78GqUeSFkTBggXgF8)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jchawarski](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/jchawarski/32/6_2.png) [@jchawarski](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/u/jchawarski)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://discourse.ocean-acoustics.org/t/wgfast-2026-wageningen-the-netherlands/194/12 "2026-04-15T00:16:24Z")

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Hi all, putting it out there that I’m cycling from Utrecht on Sunday April 19th and back again to Utrecht on Friday April 24th. Open invitation for anyone who wants to ride together 🙂