8th Annual Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation of Manatees &
Dolphins: A Unique Field Course in the Belize Barrier Reef Lagoon
System
Want to be a Conservation Biologist, Behavioral Ecologist or Marine
Mammalogist? Here's your chance to join our research team for two
intense weeks of total immersion into the world of animal behavior,
ecology & conservation, Antillean manatees, bottlenose dolphins, coral
reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds in Belize!
Website: http://www.sirenian.org/2012FieldCourse.html
Dates for 2012: Session I ~26 May - 8 June | Session II ~16 June -
29 June | Session III ~7 July - 20 July
Lead Instructor & Principal Investigator: Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D.,
Nova Southeastern University, Sirenian International
Co-PI: Katie LaCommare, Ph.D., Lansing Community College
Course Overview: This is an experiential learning field course where
you will live, work, and study from a marine science field station on
a pristine, private island off the coast of Belize. Additionally, you
will visit one or more Community Conservation Sites in Belize. Data
collected during the course will contribute to our long-term manatee/
dolphin research project. You will learn through a variety of
learning activities, literature review and discussion, independent
research projects, and actual field research. Be prepared to rise
with the sun and spend 8-10 hours outdoors, including 3-4 hours on the
water each day learning about the tropical Caribbean environment as we
explore a maze of mangrove islands, seagrass beds, and coral patches
searching for elusive manatees and charismatic dolphins.
Location: Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center at Hugh Parkey's
Belize Adventure Lodge, http://belizeadventurelodge.com/ and Sarteneja
Alliance for Conservation & Development, http://sartenejaconservation.org/
. Passport required, immunizations as recommended by CDC
Your Share of the Costs: US$2995 includes housing, meals, ground &
water transfer fees, research & materials fees; DOES NOT include
airfare, books, tips, and credit hours.
Optional Credit Hours: The course provides 100 experiential learning
and lecture hours in the field, plus approximately 35 hours of pre-
field reading, research, and preparation; at least 50 of the 135 total
hours include direct instruction by faculty. This is comparable to a
3 credit hour university course and meets the US DOE criteria in 34
CFR, SS600.2. You must make arrangements IN ADVANCE with BOTH your
advising faculty and Dr. Self-Sullivan for credit to be earned through
your home university. Credit hour fees must be paid directly to your
school and you must fulfill any study abroad requirements of your
school. This course is divided into 4 major components: lectures and
learning activities (~1 hour per day), independent reading and
assignments (~2 hour per day), data collection in the field (~3 hours
per day), project development & implementation (~2 hours per day),
presentation of pre-field research (~1 hour per day), and debate/group
discussion of reading materials (~1 hour per day).
Deadlines: Early registration & and deposit due February 1st, 2012;
regular registration & deposit due March 1st, 2012; balance due at
least 60 days prior to field dates. Late payments and late
registrations (if space available) incur a $100 late fee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contact: Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D. | cselfsullivan at sirenian dot
org | +1.540.287.8207
Visit our Facebook Event Page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=370432825564
Registration Form: http://sirenian.org/2012BelizeRegistration.pdf
Detailed Syllabus: http://sirenian.org/2012BelizeSyllabus.pdf
Policy & Liability Form: http://sirenian.org/2012BelizePolicy.pdf
Recruit a Friend: http://sirenian.org/2012BelizeFlyer.pdf
Field Course Expedition Briefing (14MB):
http://sirenian.org/2012BelizeBriefing.pdf
Posted by:
Caryn Self-Sullivan, PhD, KPA CTP
President & Co-founder, Sirenian International, Inc.
Consultant: Animal Behavior & Wildlife Conservation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1.540.287.8207
Website: http://sirenian.org
Blog: http://mermaidsandmermen.blogspot.com/
The mission of Sirenian International is to promote the long-term
conservation of manatee and dugong populations around the world
through research, education, and inter-cultural collaboration. Please
remember us when budgeting for your charitable donations. Donate
online at http://sirenian.org.
