SURVEY ON WHALING VERSUS WHALE-WATCHING IN ICELAND: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED WHAT: Volunteers are needed for the year 2012 to assist in collaborating with a Ph.D. student working on a survey about whaling and whale-watching in Iceland. This is a research project being conducted along the southwest (Reykjavík and Keflavík areas) in collaboration with the Faxaflói Cetacean Research project (www.faxa-cetacean.org), Elding whale-watching (www.elding.is), WDCS (www.wdcs.org) and the University of Iceland (www.hi.is): WHERE: Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and it has become a Mecca for ecotourists who want to enjoy the unique Icelandic landscape (geyser and the many waterfalls), learn about its culture, do bird-watching (many are the birds species among which the most common are auks, gulls, fulmars, shearwaters, gannets, terns, skuas) and see whales and dolphins (most common species are minke, humpback, fin and blue whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises). Whale-watching activities, one of the fastest growing sectors of the world tourism market, began in Iceland in 1990, and have enjoyed over 250% annual growth in recent years. Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 and started scientific whaling the following year. Although Iceland’s scientific whaling programme provided no immediate monetary benefits, nevertheless, Iceland resumed commercial whaling on 17th October 2006. Since 2009 the Faxaflói Cetacean Research has been collaborating with a local whale-watching company, WCDS and the University of Iceland in order to learn more about who tourists (visiting Iceland) are and where they stand on issues such as whaling, whale-watching and whale meat consumption. WHEN: Team I: June 1 – June 10, 2012 Team II: June 12 – July 22, 2012 Team III: July 24 – August 2, 2012 Team IV: August 4 – August 14, 2012 Team V: August 16 – August 26, 2012 Team VI: August 28 – September 6, 2012 CONDITIONS: In both Reykjavík and Keflavík, volunteers are asked to distribute a pre-designed questionnaires in the following locations: (i) at the Keflavík International airport (ii) Reykjavik Bus Terminal (iii) Reykjavik City Hostel (iv) Reykjavik Harbour (v) Reykjavik Information Centres. Unfortunately, these positions are not paid and the successful candidates have to be able to cover their own travel expenses, travel insurance, food and other personal expenses. Accommodation is not provided but we can help finding you places in downtown Reykjavik at a cheap/moderate price (from a minimum of 126 euros per 10 days of stay). Transportation to and from Keflavík will be covered for each participant. There are possibilities for students to develop their own academic projects using data collected during their stay (please contact Chiara G. Bertulli for more information). DUTIES: Applicants should be ready to work long hours and be expected to participate in the following duties: - data collection - data entry QUALIFICATIONS: - possibility to bring your own Laptop is much preferred - be enthusiastic, hard-working, team oriented, able to share small living space on board - be adaptable, flexible and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent - have good English language skills HOW TO APPLY: CV or resume should include the following: - details of your availability (Team no.) - contact details of two referees - a brief description of yourself including your interest in this project and what you hope to gain from this experience Send applications to Chiara Giulia Bertulli: Chiara G. Bertulli (Ph.D. student) University of Iceland Biology Department Náttúrfræðahús/Askja Sturlugata 7 101 Reykjavik Iceland E-mail: ciarabertulli@yahoo.it Mobile: +354-8618307 Skype: chiara.giulia.bertulli Website: www.faxa-cetacean.org