August 9 - 19, 2008,
Estacion Biologica Alberto Fernandez Yepez, Rancho Grande, Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Aragua, Venezuela
http://research.calacademy.org/research/entomology/ant_course/
ANT COURSE is a workshop designed primarily for systematists, ecologists, behaviorists, conservation biologists, and other biologists whose research responsibilities require a greater understanding of ant taxonomy. Emphasis is on the classification and identification of ant genera.
ANT COURSE is a unique opportunity to acquire training that is unavailable elsewhere.
This course will provide students with:
1) the confidence and skills to identify ant genera;
2) an understanding of modern specimen processing and curation techniques;
3) an appreciation for the biological diversity of ants, and
4) experience keying to the species level.
ANT COURSE is open to all interested individuals. Priority will be given to those students for whom the course will have a significant impact on their research. An entomological background is not required. We aim to include students with a diverse interest in biology, including ant systematics, ecology, behavioral biology and conservation. The high instructor to student ratio will allow students to receive individual attention. ANT COURSE is presented in English and limited to 30 participants. Photos from previous courses are available in the yearbook.
SPONSORS
California Academy of Sciences and Museum of Comparative Zoology, with funding in part from National Science Foundation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ANT COURSE will be taught from August 9 – 19,
2008 at the Estacion Biologica Alberto Fernandez Yepez, Rancho Grande,
Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Aragua, Venezuela. The Station is centered amid one of the richest ant faunas in South America. This course is offered annually, and in 2008 the focus is on South American ants.
PARTICIPANT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
ANT COURSE is open to all interested
individuals. Priority will be given to those students for whom the course will have a significant impact on their research with ants. An entomological background is not required. We aim to include students with a diverse interest in biology, including ant systematics, ecology, behavioral biology and conservation. The high instructor to student ratio will allow students to receive individual attention. ANT COURSE 2008will be presented in English as well as Spanish and is limited to 30 participants.
COSTS
Tuition for the 10-day COURSE is $325 for current students and $675 for non-students. In addition Rancho Grande Station fees for this period, covering dormitory room and board, are estimated at $240.
Transportation costs between home and Maracay or the nearby airports of Valencia or Maiquetia are to be borne by all participants.
FELLOWSHIPS
Four fellowships are available for 2008. Two fellowships cover tuition fees and two fellowships cover station fees. Students may apply for additional fellowships to assist in travel. Those interested in attending the course should seek all possible avenues to secure funding for the course. You should only apply for the Ant Course fellowship if you can not find other support and it is essential for your participation in the course. Beware that if you apply for an ant course fellowship it implies that fellowship funding is essential to your participation in the course. Thus, if you are not selected for a fellowship, you might not be accepted into the course. Please notify the course if your funding request status changes before the application due date.
COURSE APPLICATION
Find an application form in pdf or doc format posted on http://www.antweb.org. Send the COMPLETE application with subject line "Ant Course application" to fisher@calacademy.org.
IMPORTANT DATES
Aug. 8 For those arriving to Maiquetia airport.
Aug. 9 Travel to Rancho Grande field station
Aug. 19 Graduation and farewell party
Aug. 20 Departure at 8 am to airports (Maiquetia and Valencia)
2008 INSTRUCTORS (tentative
1. Brian Fisher (Coordinator), Dept. of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA, bfisher@calacademy.org
2. John Lattke (Coordinator), Museo Inst.Zoología Agrícola, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 4579, Maracay 2101-A, VENEZUELA, piquihuye@fastmail.fm
3. Inge Ambrecht, Departamento de Biologia, Universidad del Valle, Apartado Aereo 25360, Cali, Colombia
4. Leeanne Alonso, Rapid Assessment Program, Conservation International, Washington, DC, USA
5. Beto Brandao, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Nazare 481, Sao Paulo SP, BRASIL 04263-000
6. Fabiana Cuezzo, Instituto Superior de Entomología (INSUE), Facultad de Cs. Naturales e IML, Miguel Lillo 205, T4000JFE - San Miguel de Tucuman, ARGENTINA
7. Fernando Fernandez, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7495, Bogota D.C, COLOMBIA
8. Bob Johnson, Dept. of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona,
USA
9. Mike Kaspari, Dept. of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
10. Jack Longino, Lab I, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, USA
11. Corrie Moreau, University of California, Berkeley, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
12. Andrew Suarez, Departments of Entomology and Animal Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
13. Walter Tschinkel, Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee, FL, USA
14. Phil Ward, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
Teaching Assitant: Edith Rodriguez, Museo Inst. Zoologia Agricola, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 4579, Maracay 2101-A, VENEZUELA
