EDIT - European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy -

Call for applications
The BIOTA East Africa projects E11 (birds and seed dispersal) and E16 (ant ecology), supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the National Museums of Kenya (Invertebrate and Ornithological Department), will conduct a student course on the ecology of ants and birds. The course aims at graduate students that want to improve their skills in study design, ant or bird monitoring in the field, and statistical analysis of ecological data. Students interested in these topics are encouraged to apply.

Place and time
The course will be conducted from June 8th to the 26th 2009 at the A Rocha Kenya Mwamba Centre in Watamu. Field studies will be conducted in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.

Course participants
The course is open for 16 students studying Zoology, Conservation or Ecology. Applicants should hold at least a first degree in their 4th year. Preference will be given to students undertaking their Msc Course work.

Course objectives
The course aims at providing knowledge about the design and performance of ecological studies, statistical analysis of field data, and the ecology of ants and birds.

Course fees
Students will be charged a fee of 4000 KES per person. Accommodation (in tents), food, and transport (Nairobi-Watamu-Nairobi; Watamu-Arabuko-Sokoke) are covered by the BIOTA projects E11 and E16, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). BIOTA and National Museums of Kenya provide technical support.

Course application
Applicants are requested to send a letter of application, explaining their interest and suitability for the training, a CV, a copy of the university certificate, and, if available, a recommendation letter from their Head of Department. Please indicate clearly your main reason for application (skills in data design & statistical analyses, bird ecology, or ant ecology). Please send all documents in a single electronic file to Dr. Matthias Schleuning and Dr. Marcell Peters no later than 31 March 2009.

More information on the attached document.