Join our research team for two intense weeks of total immersion into the world of animal behavior, ecology & conservation, Antillean manatees, bottlenose dolphins, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds in Belize! Course Overview: This is a total immersion field course where you will live, work, and study from a marine science field station on a pristine, private island off the coast of Belize. Data collected during the course will contribute to our long-term manatee/dolphin research project established in 1998. You will learn through a variety of learning activities, literature review and discussion, independent and team projects, and actual field research. Be prepared to rise with the sun and spend 8-10 hours outdoors, including 3-4 hours on the water each day learning about the tropical Caribbean environment as we explore a maze of mangrove islands, seagrass beds, and coral patches searching for elusive manatees and charismatic dolphins. The course is divided into 4 major components: lectures/ learning activities (~1 hour per day), independent reading and assignments (~2 hour per day), data collection in the field (~3 hours per day), individual project development & implementation (~2 hours per day), presentation of pre-field component (~1 hour per day), and debate/group discussion of reading materials (~1 hour per day). Two days of extra-curricular activities are included: (1) diving or snorkeling at Turneffe Atoll, and (2) exploring an ancient Maya City. Additional, optional SCUBA dives are available as time and weather permits, but additional costs are involved. LOCATION: Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge, http://belizeadventurelodge.com/ (Passport required) COSTS: US$2995 includes housing, meals, most tips, field trips, ground & water transfer fees, research & materials fees; DOES NOT include airfare, books, extra tips, or credit hours. CREDIT HOURS: The course has ~60 contact hours and is comparable to a 3 credit hour university course. You must make arrangements IN ADVANCE with BOTH your advising faculty and Dr. Self-Sullivan for credit to be given through your home university. Credit hour fees must be paid directly to your school and you must fulfill all study abroad requirements of your school. DEADLINES: Early registration & and deposit due March 15, 2011; regular registration & deposit due April 1st, 2011; balance due April 15th, 2011. Late registration (after April 1st--if space available) incurs a $100 late fee. If you are registering through your home university, earlier deadlines may exist; please check with your academic advisor. MINIMUM / MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 8-24 students LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=370432825564 http://sirenian.org/BelizeFlyer2011.pdf http://sirenian.org/BelizeSyllabus2011.pdf http://sirenian.org/BelizeRegistration2011.pdf Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D. Email: caryns@sirenian.org 200 Stonewall Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-2110 Mobile: 540.287.8207 | Fax: 888.371.4998 Adjunct Faculty, Nova Southeastern University http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/ http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ President & Co-founder, Sirenian International, Inc. http://sirenian.org/caryn.html Join me in Belize this summer! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=370432825564 http://sirenian.org/BelizeFlyer2011.pdf http://sirenian.org/BelizeSyllabus2011.pdf http://sirenian.org/BelizeRegistration2011.pdf