A Ph.D. Class on Research Training of Aquatic Animals Many branches of biological research relies on trained animals under human care. Animal training thus fulfills a very important role in biological research, and appropriate training methodologies are crucial for obtaining and adequately interpreting data. This class is inteded for graduate students and trainers specializing in research training of aquatic animals. The first part of the class contains lectures and practical trials on basic training paradigms, such as classical conditioning and positive reinforcement. The second part deals with special training techniques for marine mammal and fish training. The students are exposed to lectures by some of the foremost experts in the world on animal training, as well as on very highly esteemed scientists whose research methods involve animal training. Lectures are combined with practical trials where the students train and try out various training methods under the supervision of the teachers. When: Monday 2nd to Wednesday 11th of June, 2008 Where: Fjord&Bælt, Kerteminde, Denmark. Funded by: The Nordic Marine Academy from the Nordic Research Council, and the Research Graduate School SNAK, University of Southern Denmark Organized by: Magnus Wahlberg, Fjord&Bælt and University of Southern Denmark Workload: 5 ECTS Maximum number of students: 24 Fee: Students from Nordic countries free of charge including room and board, students outside this region will be charged 3.000 DKK for participation, including room and board. Applications consisting of a maximum 1-page letter motivating why you want to be enrolled in this class, and a maximium 1-page C.V., should be emailed or posted to Magnus Wahlberg, Fjord&Bælt, Margrethes Plads 1, DK-5300 Kerteminde, Denmark, magnus@fjord-baelt.dk or magnus.wahlberg@biology.au.dk no later than 1st of March, 2008. Successful candidates will be notified by 15th of March, 2008. Teachers Björn Mauck (BM), Ph.D. and Professor, University of Southern Denmark Colleen Reichmuth (CR), Ph. D. and Associate Professor, Long Marine Lab, Santa Cruz, USA Ken Ramirez (KR), vice president, John G Shedd Aquarium, USA Kirsten Andersen (KA), animal curator, Odense Zoo, Denmark Mats Amundin (MA), Ph.D., chief Biologist, Kolmården, Sweden Marie-Anne Blanchet (MAB), M.Sc., senior trainer, Fjord&Bælt, Denmark Marlee Breese (MB), senior trainer, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, USA Paul Nacthigall (PN), Professor, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, USA Richard Fay (RF), Professor, Parmly Sensory Sciences Institute, USA Schedule (still subject to major changes) Students share rooms in hostel, where breakfast is served. Lunch and dinner is served on at the marine station. Monday 2nd of June 9-10 MW -Welcome and general introduction 10-12 KR - Introduction to Training & Basic Conditioning 14-15 MB - Chicken Training Intro 15-17 KR - Basic Operant Conditioning Continued 20-21 MW - Tour around Fjord&Bælt Tuesday 3rd of June 9-10 KR - Non-Formal interactions 10-11 MB - Chicken Training 11-12 KR - Cooperative Behavior Introduction 14-15 MB - Chicken Training 15-16 KR - Husbandry Training 16-17 MB - Chicken Training 20-21 Bertel Møhl and Søren Andersen: Origins of research training of marine mammals in Denmark Wednesday 4th of June 9-11 KR - Advanced Operant Conditioning 11-12 MB- Chicken Training 14-16 KR - Advanced Operant Conditioning Continued 16-17 MB - Chicken Training 20-21 KA + MB: Harbour porpoise training at F&B Thursday 5th of June 9-10 MB - Chicken Training 10-12 KR - Problem Solving 14-15 MB - Chicken Training 15-16 KR - Aggression 16-17 MB - Chicken Training Friday 6th of June 9-10 MB - Chicken Training 10-12 KR - Research Training (tied to previous lectures) 14-16 RF - Research Training 16-17 MB - Chicken Training Saturday 7th of June 9-12 RF - Training fish for psychophysical studies 14-18 KA - Tour to Odense Zoo 20- Dining at Skovbakken, Odense Sunday 8th of June 9-10 MB + PN - Research training of dolphins 10-11 PN - Food deprivation and other controversial techniques 11-12 PN - Trainer and scientists team work, a historical perspective of do's and don'ts 14-17 MB - Chicken trainining BM + MAB + MB: Harbour porpoise and harbour seal training demo 20-21 MAB + Kristian Beedholm: Porpoise hearing studies at F&B using ABR Monday 9th of June 9-12 CR + BM - Research training of seals 14-16 Desensitization in marine mammal training 16-18 Training projects wrap-up 20-21 MA - Training Cetaceans for sound production studies Tuesday 10th of June Group evaluations including video observations of training sessions Wednesday 11th of June 9-11 Sum-up discussion around training projects 11-12 MW + KA - Where do we go from here: a Nordic network on research training 12-13 Class evaluation and farewell