Last week Ecoauthor provided the practical (hands-on) training in using multi-variate statistics in biodiversity data analyses (in cooperation with partners). It was good to have enthousiastic motivated (starting) researchers from around the world participating in Vlissingen (the Netherlands). Training was part of a two-days FixO3 (Fixed point Open Ocean Observatory network) course on ‘Acquisition, validation, quality control and access to biodiversity data’ where we made use of the large-scale monitoring data on macrozoobenthic communities collected by the EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) partners. Nice to see different disciplines, expertise and observations from the coastal region and the open ocean assembling.