Dear Colleagues A final announcement as we have a few spaces have become available. Sea Search Research and Conservation are running a 4 week course on marine mammal research techniques - see below and attached flyer. We would greatly appreciate if you could please pass this information around your departments and to potentially interested students, and colleagues. Please note it is possible to take only certain components of the course set at weekly intervals. Priced Pro rata. Kind regards, Dr Simon Elwen and Dr Tess Gridley Information below and attached and contact info@seasearch.co.za for more details: --- --- --- --- *Where *- Cape Town,South Africa *When *- 04 to 29 November 2019 (or sign up for specific weeks) *Target audience* - students and early career researchers engaging or interested in research on marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates. Price GBP 1100 for full course. Individual weeks: pro rata. 50% Discount for SADC Residents ---- ---- ---- Course Summary. This academically intensive course is targeted at students, postgraduates and researchers with a strong interest in a career in marine mammal and marine top-predator research Based on decades on cumulative team experience this course will provide you with a sound knowledge of survey design, research tools, data collection and analytical methods to enable you to effectively set up and conduct a research study on whales and dolphins and efficiently analyse your data. Course leaders: Dr Simon Elwen & Dr Tess Gridley. Date: 04 to 29 Nov. Flyer and more details available here: http://seasearch.co.za/training/ Course Content Week 1. Survey & Experimental Design (one week) Focusing the goal / Abundance estimation (mark-recapture and line transect including acoustic / Impact & rapid assessment studies / Platforms of Opportunity / Citizen Science Week 2 - Photographic & Video Methods Camera function and use / Data collection goals / Mark-recapture analysis & considerations (image quality, mark type, distinctiveness, databases, input etc) / Photogrammetry / Automated methods Week 3 - Acoustic research methods Introduction to Bioacoustics / Physics of Sound / Equipment—types and limitations / Study design / Software and sound analysis / Automated methods Week 4 - Mixed methods overview *- Shore based tracking - Behavioural data collection - Intro to GIS / Telemetry / Strandings / Boat skills* Modules consist of a combination of lectures, discussion, computer based and field-based practical exercises. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Simon Elwen Ph.D. - Director Sea Search Research & Conservation and the Namibian Dolphin Project Research Associate: Department of Zoology and Botany - Stellenbosch University & Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria