High-throughput sequencing has transformed how we study natural systems, uncovering the molecular networks that underpin ecosystem function. Yet the path from raw sequence data to ecological interpretation can be a complex one. In this seminar, Dr Emma Rocke will provide an accessible introduction to metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches, demonstrating how these methods can realistically be used to profile community composition, functional potential, and gene activity in environmental samples. Drawing on examples from coastal and upwelling ecosystems, the talk will walk through key analytical steps from data preprocessing and assembly through annotation and quantification to functional and statistical interpretation while highlighting a range of accessible tools. The session aims to demystify these pipelines and illustrate how such datasets can be applied to address ecological questions relevant to environmental scientists.