Deadline: 15 Mat 2009

-----Original Message-----
From: Center for Trop. Forest Science Network
[mailto:CTFSNET@...] On Behalf Of Sautu, Adriana
Sent: 26 January 2009 23:40
Subject: CTFSnet: 2009 Field Biology Course to students from tropical
Asia, "The Biodiversity of Borneo"

** Harvard University and CTFS-AA offer a 2009 Field Biology Course to
students from tropical Asia: `The Biodiversity of Borneo' **

In association with the Harvard University Summer School, the Arnold
Arboretum and the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS-AA) will offer a
field biology course to be held in Sarawak and Sabah (East Malaysia) from 8
June to 22 July 2009. Ten Southeast Asian participants will join 10 Harvard
University students to study terrestrial and marine biodiversity, ecology
and conservation, with instructors from Harvard University and other
institutions (including Sabah Parks, Sabah Forest Research Center, Sarawak
Forestry Corporation, Univ. Malaysia Sabah, Yayasan Sabah).

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 orangutans,
hornbills, rhinos and as many as 5,000 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). 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://phylodiversity.net/borneo-course/. Queries and
completed application materials should be directed to Dr. Cam Webb
<bb09app@...>. The application deadline is 15 March
2009.

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