[Coral-List] Sponge Biodiversity Course: Application Deadline Extended to April 15

Bob Thacker thacker at uab.edu
Tue Mar 31 13:44:57 EDT 2015


Dear Colleagues,
I am happy to announce an opportunity for training in sponge biodiversity.
Please distribute this announcement to individuals that you think will
benefit from this course. The application deadline has been extended to
April 15, 2015.
Thanks,
Bob
thacker at uab.edu
---

Sponge Biodiversity in a Changing Ocean: Species, Ecosystems, Processes
August 9-16, 2015
Mote Marine Laboratory, Summerland Key, Florida

A 7-day intensive course consisting of lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory
experiments will be offered at Mote Marine Laboratory, Tropical Research
Lab, Summerland Key, Florida, from August 9 to 16, 2015.  The course is
organized by Cristina Diaz, Shirley Pomponi, and Bob Thacker; other
instructors include Janie Wulff, Thierry Perez, John Stevely, and Charles
Bigger.

The course is open to graduate students, researchers, and resource managers
who have a primary interest in the role of sponges as key components of
tropical ecosystems in a changing ocean.

Sponges constitute an essential component of coral reefs, mangroves, and
seagrass beds. Their high diversity and biomass in most benthic marine
ecosystems and their unique physiology makes them important targets to
understand, manage, and protect those ecosystems.

Through this course, students will learn how to identify and describe
common sponge species from Florida Keys seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef
ecosystems.  They will also gain experience using sponges as models to
address questions related to biodiversity, biotechnology, and climate
change.

Apply by mailing a letter of intent, your CV, and a letter of
recommendation (sent separately) to taxochica at gmail.com. Your letter should
state why it is important for you to participate in this course, and how
your work, education, and/or research will benefit from it. The deadline
for applications is extended to April 15, 2015.  Applicants will be
notified of acceptance by April 30, 2015.  Space is limited to 12-14
students.

Tuition is $1000 and includes accommodation, breakfast/lunch, field trips
(scuba and snorkeling), and laboratory fees. Tuition assistance may be
available.

Participants planning to scuba dive must meet the certification and
training requirements of Mote Marine Laboratory:
https://mote.org/locations/details/tropical-research-laboratory/tropical-research-laboratory-scuba-requirements-training


Application instructions are available at:
http://thackerlab.weebly.com/spongecourse2015.html


Information that must be included in the application:

   Name
   Address
   Phone number
   Email

   CV (should include education, research and field experience)

   One letter of recommendation

   Brief description of why you want to take the course and how you intend
to use what you’ve learned

   Dive experience:
      - Are you a scuba diver?
      - Do you intend to scuba dive? Participants planning to scuba dive
must meet the certification and training requirements of Mote Marine
Laboratory:
https://mote.org/locations/details/tropical-research-laboratory/tropical-research-laboratory-scuba-requirements-training
      - Current diving certification
      - Indicate if you are currently certified to dive under the auspices
of an AAUS-affiliated institution.


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