[Coral-List] Octocoral Workshop

[K Padmakumar]

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE TAXONOMY OF OCTOCORALS

The Workshop is designed to impart training on identification of the major 
soft coral and gorgonian genera of Indo-Pacific region. The intensive 
six-day course will include an overview of the variety of colony forms, the 
internal and external taxonomic characters, and the various laboratory 
techniques employed in analysing these characters. The workshop will adopt 
a predominantly hands-on approach, with participants critically examining 
examples of each genus. The participants will be encouraged to bring 
samples from their own region. Only 10 overseas participants can be 
accommodated at the workshop. An optional Field Trip to Gulf of Mannar 
coral reef environment will also be organized. The participants are 
encouraged to bring the book 
“<http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/facilities/bookshop/bs-soft-corals01.html>Soft 
Corals and Sea Fans” authored by Katharina Fabricius and Phil Alderslade, 
Australian Institute of Marine Science, pp 264, which will be used 
extensively during the course.


ORGANISERS:

The workshop will be organized by Dr. K. Padmakumar, Department of Aquatic 
Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India. Dr Phil 
Alderslade (Curator of Coelenterates at the Museum and Art Gallery of the 
Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia) and Dr. Leen van Ofwegen (Curator of 
Coelenterates at the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden, 
Netherlands). will be conducting the workshop.


DURATION OF WORKSHOP:         21 - 26 March 2005

COST OF THE WORKSHOP            : US $ 400

The cost of workshop covers course fee, boarding and lodging expenses for 
the duration of the workshop.


PLACE OF WORKSHOP:

The workshop will be held at Trivandrum, situated in the state of Kerala. 
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) is the capital city of Kerala and well 
connected by air, rail and bus services. Kerala 
(<http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/kerala.html>http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/kerala.html) 
is a green strip of land, in the South West corner of Indian peninsula. It 
has only 1.18% of the total area of the country but houses 3.43% of the 
country's population. Kerala is an enchantingly beautiful, emerald green 
land, flanked by the Western Ghats on one side, the Arabian Sea on the 
other, and strewn with rivers, lagoons, backwaters and rich vegetation in 
between. Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters. Forty-four rivers 
criss-cross the state physique along with countless runlets. Numerous 
backwaters are the attractive feature of Kerala. The biggest among these 
backwaters is the Vembanad lake, with an area of 200 sq km, which opens out 
into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port.

PROGRAM FUNDING:

It is the participant's responsibility to identify a sponsoring agency and 
obtain funding to cover the entire cost of the program including the Course 
fee, Travel, and personal expenses. Participation will be limited to 20 
individuals. A non-refundable deposit of US$100 is required by 31 December, 
2004 to reserve a space. Final payment must be received by 31, January, 2005.

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English is the language of instruction.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: To register your interest, please fill out and 
return the Proforma to:

DR. K. PADMAKUMAR
Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
PO BOX 30, Kerala University Campus
Kariavattom, Trivandrum – 695581.
India.
Phone:              0091-471-2412434
Fax:                  0091-471-2415011 or 2414343
eFax:                001-419-710-3712
E-mail:   <mailto:k.padmakumar at vsnl.com>k.padmakumar at vsnl.com



FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION E-MAIL TO:

<mailto:k.padmakumar at vsnl.com>k.padmakumar at vsnl.com
<mailto:Phil.Alderslade at nt.gov.au>Phil.Alderslade at nt.gov.au

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


PROFORMA

Name                           :
Position or Title            :
Organization                 :
Address                       :
Country                        :
Telephone                    :
Fax                              :
E-mail                          :

Attach a copy of your C.V.


DR. K. PADMAKUMAR
Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
PO BOX 30
Kerala University Campus
Kariavattom,
Trivandrum - 695581
India.

Phone:          0091 471 2412434(Off.) 2414343 (Res.)
TeleFax:        0091 471 2415011 or 2414343
eFax:           001-419-710-3712

http://www.seaslugforum.net/chrocava.htm#m8894


E-mail:   k.padmakumar at vsnl.com


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"Ignorance, and a lack of understanding is not reason enough to 
disregard."  Gandhi