[Coral-List] Summer School at the Maldives
Massimo Boyer - massimo@kudalaut.com
massimo at edge-of-reef.com
Tue Jun 4 12:10:45 EDT 2013
SUMMER SCHOOL in coral reef ecology at Maldives. KORALLIONLAB, a new lab
on Vavvaru island, Lhaviyani atoll, offers in august and september a
summer school, duration 10 days, open to 8 undergraduate students. I
will be involved as teacher, at least for the august courses. Official
language: English. If interested, or if you know somebody that can be
interested, please contact me as soon as possible. Available places are
running out. Complete info downloadable here:
http://kudalaut.com/news/Summer-School-in-Coral-Reef-Ecology.-Maldives,-august-2013_46.htm
Korallionlab is offering 8 students the possibility to participate on an
International Course
focusing on coral reef ecology.
Based on Vavvaru Island, Lhaviyani Atoll, in the Indian Ocean,
Korallionlab offers many
different reef habitats for potential research projects: from tracts of
reef with ~100% coral
cover, patch reefs within the sandy lagoon and large coral
bommies, which are often
frequented by manta rays.
There is accommodation for up to 8 students at a time, with beach front
huts furnished
with beds, showers, toilets and a private deck.
There is a purpose built wet lab for tank based experiments
which has sea water flow
through and a dry lab adjacent, kitted out with high quality research
equipment including
fluorescence and stereo microscopes, micro-centrifuges, autoclaves
and DNA extraction
facilities (including the ability to make dry ice).
The main reef can be easily reached by snorkeling and diving is not
essential for your work
to be carried out here.
COURSE LOCATION: Vavvaru Island, Lhaviyani atoll, Maldives
COURSE LENGTH: 10 days
DATES:
04-08-2013/13-08-2013
13-08-2013/22-08-2013
22-08-2013/31-08-2013
31-08-2013/09-09-2013
09-09-2013/18-09-2013
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 15 th 2013. Each 10 day course is limited
to only 8 students
and applications will be evaluated as they arrive.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide the student with a sound
foundation in ecological
concepts, survey techniques and experimental design in field research
applied to coral reef
ecosystems. The course is designed on the reef ecology of Maldives, an
atoll country with
one of the more interesting and diverse reef formation in all the Indian
Ocean.
We will provide a brief introduction on coral ecology,
focusing on corals and other
members associated with them. We will cover lecturers on coral anatomy,
physiology and
ecological requirements. We will also assess the roles on the reef and
cover ways the reefs
are being impacted by both anthropogenic and natural factors.
Reef health sampling
techniques will be discussed and practiced in the field and
we will go over numerous
experimental designs and sampling schemes aimed at describing the reef
community as a
whole.
Class Lectures
Lectures will present topics that provide a background for the field
work in an interactive
discussion format. Topics are selected to permit students to develop an
awareness of the
objectives of research on coral reefs as well as an appreciation of
modern theoretical and
practical issues in ecology.
-Coral Ecology
-Threats to Coral Reefs
-Survey Methods for Assessing Coral Health (inc lectures on coral
disease)
-Laboratory Techniques for assessing Microbial Communities
Associated with Coral
Reefs
-Field Work Briefings Lecture
Group Exercises
Students will practice diving/snorkeling on several sites in
the vicinity of the station
(covering the variety of different habitats we have available around the
island including the
Fore Reef, Reef Crest and the Wall. Students will be
organized into dive team groups
(depending on their qualifications) and will carry out field
observations or data collection
which will contribute to ongoing data collection as part of a long term
study conducted by
the marine laboratory. These experiences in the reef habitats and survey
methods will then
allow the students to carry out their own individual research projects.
In the evening, students will participate in "debriefing sessions"
during which they will try
to identify the reef organisms they saw during the dives of the day.
Individual Research Projects
Each student will be expected to prepare a brief, original
project in consultation with
instructors. Projects may be suggested by observations made
during group exercises or
from the class lectures, and will be evaluated on the basis of
feasibility in the available time,
experimental design and concept. During the final two days of the
course, data analysis will
be carried out and students will present their results orally in an
end-of-course symposium.
TUITION: 1.500,00 USD. Fee includes; lab use, lodging and meals
(beverage excluded) and
dive tanks.
PLEASE NOTE: International flights and Seaplane transfers from
Male to Vavvaru (USD
450,00) are not included in the above price. We will however organize
your seaplane when
you have booked your international flights.
COURSE CREDIT: Credit will be given, based on agreement with the
student's institutions.
A letter grade will be assigned based on proposals, oral presentation
as well as attendance
and participation in lecture/discussion and engagement in the material.
In the field/lab portion, students will be evaluated on the
basis of safe diving practice,
development of observational and data collecting skills,
reliability as a dive partner and
preparedness to go into the field with data collecting equipment and
dive gear in order and
ready. Other, less tangibles such as personal attitude, motivation and
contribution to the
course will also be noted.
NOTE: Diving certification is not necessary for this course,
but International diving
certificate, diving insurance and medical certificates are
necessary for joining any scuba
diving activities.
Non certified people, will participate in snorkeling projects.
INSTRUCTOR:
The course will be run by
- coral reef ecologist Dr Mike Sweet, PhD from the Coral
Health and Disease
Laboratory, Newcastle University, UK
His specialties include: Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Survey
Techniques, Coral Disease,
Marine Diseases in General, Microbiology, Molecular Profiling
Techniques, Histology
- coral reef ecologist Dr Massimo Boyer, PhD from
Environmental Marine Science,
Genova University, Italy
His specialties includes : fish ecology, reef ecology, reef survey and
monitoring, behavioral
ecology of reef organisms, SCUBA Diving Instructor
--
Kudalaut viaggi: www.kudalaut.com
Kudalaut photo: www.kudalaut.eu
Scientific Editor of the web magazine www.scubazone.it
Aurora liveaboard: www.auroraliveaboard.com
Sea Life Database: www.seadb.net
Massimo Boyer's webpage: www.edge-of-reef.com
Skype contact: kudalaut61
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/massimo.boyer
LinkedIn profile: http://it.linkedin.com/in/massimoboyer
Indirizzo di posta elettronica certificata: massimo.boyer at pec.it
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