Abstract
<jats:p>The PETRAS (Planetology, Exploration, Terrestrial Analogs, Robotics, Astrobiology, Spectroscopy) Summer School is an annual training program designed to provide early-career researchers with hands-on, multidisciplinary experience in planetary sciences. While primarily aimed at PhD students, the school is open to master's students, postdoctoral researchers, and, thanks to a collaboration with the DLR School Lab, also to high school students. This breadth of participation reflects a core ambition of PETRAS: to bring together all generations of scientists, from those with no research experience yet, to early-career researchers, to established professionals, creating a uniquely cross-generational learning environment.PETRAS is the result of a collaboration between multiple European research institutions and universities, including the University of Perugia, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, the Italian Space Agency, the German Aerospace Center, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, the European Astrobiology Institute, and the University of Cologne, among others. This international network reflects the school's commitment to building bridges across national and institutional boundaries in planetary science training.The school takes place on Vulcano Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy), a natural laboratory offering direct access to active volcanic and hydrothermal environments that serve as planetary analogs. This field setting is central to the PETRAS philosophy: learning by doing, in environments that directly mirror the scientific questions being studied.The program combines thematic seminars, field activities, and hands-on workshops across six interconnected domains: volcanology and planetary geology, astrobiology and the study of extreme environments, remote sensing and spectroscopy, robotic exploration, geophysical methods, and drone-based geospatial mapping. Participants engage with topics ranging from Venus and Mars surface geology to the search for biosignatures in hydrothermal systems, from Raman spectroscopy interpretation to autonomous navigation in planetary analog terrains. Field activities include volcanological excursions on La Fossa crater, environmental sampling for astrobiological analysis, in-situ spectroscopic mineral detection, geophysical subsurface imaging, and drone flight demonstrations. Evening sessions extend the learning experience with astrophotography workshops and stargazing.PETRAS is offered free of charge to all selected participants, with accommodation costs kept to a minimum through institutional agreements. This model is specifically designed to lower financial barriers to participation, welcoming students and researchers from institutions with limited funding. The selection process prioritizes scientific motivation and potential over institutional affiliation, drawing participants from across Europe and beyond.Now in its third edition in 2026, PETRAS builds on the legacy of the Vulcano International Summer School, active since 2015 under successive funding frameworks including ROBEX, Europlanet, and ARCHES. The school has been supported over the years by a range of institutions: in 2024 by the European Astrobiology Institute (EAI); in 2025 by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the European Space Agency (ESA); and in 2026 by INAF, Europlanet, and the Italian Society of Planetary Sciences (SISP). By combining scientific depth with an accessible, field-based format and a strong international network, PETRAS exemplifies how targeted training initiatives can support capacity building, foster collaboration, and create inclusive pathways into planetary science across all career stages.</jats:p>