[MARMAM] Marine Mammal Behavioural Ecology Studies in New Zealand

[Bernd Wuersig]

Dear MARMAM Colleagues, 
 
A new course in Marine Mammal Behavioural Ecology, with special emphasis on 
dusky dolphin foraging and social strategies will be held in Kaikoura, New 
Zealand, 17-28 May, 2011. 

 
PERSONNEL:  This course is team taught by a cadre of international experts, and 
is limited to 10 participants, preferably of undergraduate or graduate student 
status. While you do not need to be enrolled in university during the course, we 
prefer general student status, or working towards it.
 
DATES:  Course dates are 17-28 May, with arrival needed by 16 May (if coming 
from North America or Europe, add one day due to the dateline, i.e. you need to 
leave home by 14 May).
 
CREDIT:  Course credit in the US system is 4 units (equal to a one-semester 
lecture course with lab).  Please coordinate with your respective university if 
you wish credit, and the course leaders will give you a grade on performance, 
and a full evaluation as per your school’s requisites.
 
COURSE STRUCTURE: This course will consist of 1) lectures and in situ immersion 
in the world of dusky dolphins; 2) practical field experience in photographic 
identification, theodolite tracking from a shore station, and learning details 
of behavioral descriptions; 3) assessment of dolphin activities from a dolphin 
watching vessel, for close-up interactional information; and 4) a local 
indigenous Maori appreciation of nature and natural resources, with a special 
Maori-led tour through the native forest.  Participants have the chance to 
conduct their own directed studies during these two weeks, and to use these for 
student accreditation for their respective universities.  We will help supply 
ideas for the actual topic once in the field.
 
COST:  Course cost is $3,000 US.  You are expected to find your own financial 
way to Kaikoura (with our logistic advice), but once you are there, we take care 
of other course expenses: Living in a beautiful house overlooking the sea; 
evening meals by an acclaimed local cook, and all other food costs; costs of 
boats and vans/cars/trucks.
 
INTERESTED?  Contact the course coordinator, Bernd Würsig, by Friday Feb. 11 
with your CV and a short cover letter explaining why you would like to 
participate in this course, at wuersig at sbcglobal.net.  If selected, a 50% 
deposit is due by Friday March 4; 100% by Friday April 25, 2011. You will need 
international health insurance.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.uvic.ca/pipermail/marmam/attachments/20110202/c82069df/attachment.html>