---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kok Ben Toh <kokbent@...>
Date: Feb 20, 2008 10:58 PM
Subject: 'The Biodiversity of Borneo' 2008 Course
To: ecotax-owner@yahoogroups.com

Hi,

I think some of the ecotax yahoo group member would
like to know about this course. :)

Ben



Course announcement: Harvard University/CTFS-AA Field
Biology Course: `The Biodiversity of Borneo' 2008

In association with the Harvard University Summer
School, the Center for Tropical Forest Science and the
Arnold Arboretum (CTFS-AA) will offer a field biology
course to be held in Sarawak and Sabah (East Malaysia)
from 1 July to 5 August 2008. Ten Southeast and South
Asian participants will join 10 US students to study
terrestrial and marine biodiversity, ecology and
conservation, with instructors from Harvard University
and other institutions.

The forests and reefs of northwest and north Borneo
have some of the highest levels of alpha diversity in
the world. The forests are home to orang-utans,
hornbills, rhinos and thousands of tree species, and
the reefs offer some of the best diving in the world.
We will visit world-class parks and reserves (e.g.,
Lambir, Kinabalu and the Maliau Basin), to gain a
thorough understanding of abiotic controls on species
composition, and will contrast processes that maintain
biodiversity in forests with those operating on coral
reefs. Throughout Borneo, intensive logging and marine
harvesting have occurred for many years. Our course
will explore the complexities of conservation today,
including trips to sustainably-managed, carbon-traded,
and restored forests. We will also provide
opportunities for the students to meet people living
in and off the forest, to understand their motivations
for forest conversion and conservation, and to
consider the human health dimensions of forest change.

A key feature will be the development of skills in
research project design, execution and analysis, based
around the statistical platform `R.' The students will
complete two independent projects, from conception to
presentation, and participate in a group project on
the coral reef. The students will gain database and
web publishing skills by developing a community
digital record of the trip.

The course is aimed at advanced undergraduates, recent
graduates currently active in biological research, and
postgraduate entry-level students. Travel, food,
accommodation and course fees will be funded for
Tropical Asian nationals (ASEAN, PNG, India, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, China) by the CTFS-AA program.
Students will be responsible for other costs and some
students may be requested to pay their international
travel. Places may be available for non-Harvard,
non-Asian, paying students. Students will be selected
to provide broad international representation.

For more information on the course (including
instructions for application) see:
<http://www.summer.harvard.edu/2008/programs/abroad/borneo/>
and <http://phylodiversity.net/borneo-course/>. A
flyer is available for posting on notice boards:
<http://phylodiversity.net/borneo-course/docs/borneo2008_flyer.pdf>.

Completed application materials should be directed to
Cam Webb (c/o borneo2008@...). The
application deadline is 15 March 2008.




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