<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">2017 WINTER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (Dec. 20-Jan. 9)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>FIELD COURSE IN PRIMATE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR (PRE W-17)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>COURSE LOCATION</b>: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla Colon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on a beach facing the Caribbean Sea. Coral reef and seagrass ecosystems lie out in front of the station and lowland tropical rain forests lie directly behind. This juxtaposition of the two most biologically diverse ecosystems provides tremendous opportunities for education and research. See for <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.itec-2Dedu.org_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=SwSBB_g3nQuwHqVaURKQxmGYT0EK9vRB3DzO4cCp3T0&s=oIc_bxj3QE4qxjU57H-483FnQN_EWfLhTmJpJM8K5dw&e="><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">http://www.itec-edu.org/</span></a> details. There are three species of non-human primates available for study on Isla Colon. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>INSTRUCTOR</b>:<b> </b>Alain Houle, Ph.D., Associate Researcher, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, <a href="mailto:houle@fas.harvard.edu"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">houle@fas.harvard.edu</span></a>, or <a href="mailto:alain.houle@gmail.com"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">alain.houle@gmail.com</span></a>. </span><span style="text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none">Specialty</span><span style="font-kerning: none">: Primate ecology and behavior, canopy access techniques.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>COURSE DESCRIPTION</b>: The purpose of this course is to give the student a foundation in primate ecology, primate behavior, field techniques and analytical tools in a tropical setting. The material covered is equivalent to a university upper level field course in primate ecology. The course is divided into five distinct components: classroom lectures, classroom presentations by students (based on assigned readings), discussions and exercises in the field, one written exam, and one individual project based on data collection techniques learned in the field and in the classroom. During the first few days students will become familiar with the many ecosystems found in our area and with the trail systems during “orientation” walks. The bulk of the first 10 days will be spent learning field techniques and carrying out various group projects or exercises. Midway through the course the entire station community will take a 3-day field trip to cloud forests of Boquete (see details below). On returning to the field station, students work on their individual research projects. Towards the end of the course students will analyze their data, write a technical report and present their findings orally during a station-wide symposium.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Lectures/Readings</b>. There will be lectures on ecological concepts, primate ecology, primate behavior, field techniques, behavioral sampling techniques, and analytical tools. Readings corresponding to lecture topics will be assigned from selected papers.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Required Textbooks</b>. Karen B. Strier (2010). Primate Behavioral Ecology, 4th edition. Prentice Hall. A set of papers derived from articles or book chapters will also be provided during the course.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Group Field Exercises</b>. Students will learn the following field techniques, which will assist them in setting up their own independent field project:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">-Constructing habitat profiles</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">-Plant phenology profiles</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">-GPS exercise (Garmin 12XL)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">-Behavioral observations (behavioral sampling techniques)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">-Statistics (SPSS)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Individual Research Projects</b>. With the assistance of the instructor, each student will develop and carry out their own field research project on a topic of their choice. Each topic must be approved by the instructor prior to beginning data collection. Each student will be required to write a research proposal, collect and analyze their data, write up their findings, and present their results to the class. A text about the art of publishing will be provided.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Grading</b>. Up to 6 units of credit will be given, 3 for the lecture portion and 3 for the field portion. A letter grade will be assigned based on exams, reports, proposals, attendance at lectures, as well as by less tangible such as personal attitude, motivation, and contribution to the course. A letter reporting a grade will be made available to the student’s institution. The student will be responsible for providing direct evidence of participation (e.g., lecture notes, reports, exams, etc.).</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>Course Schedule</b>. The course schedule will be determined on site as a function of student needs and preferences. It might be also weather-dependent. Contact Dr. Houle for course details.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>BOQUETE CLOUD FOREST FIELD TRIP</b>: This field trip will allow students the opportunity to visit other areas of Panama, to experience Panamanian culture, and to visit tropical cloud and seasonal forests first hand. We travel in ITEC boats to the mainland and then by chartered bus to Boquete which lies at the base of 11,000 ft Volcan Baru. The bus trip will take us up and over the central mountain range and through Palo Seco National Park. Several stops will be made in route.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>COURSE LENGTH</b>: ITEC Winter field courses are about three weeks in length. The PRE W-17 will run from December 20, 2017 through January 9, 2018.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>TUITION</b>: $2150 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodging, meals and airport transfers in Bocas del Toro. The tuition also covers transportation and lodging during the 3-day cloud forest field trip on the mainland.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b>REGISTRATION DEADLINE</b>: November 20, 2017. The course is limited to 10 students and applications will be evaluated as they arrive. Applications can be found at <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.itec-2Dedu.org_application.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=SwSBB_g3nQuwHqVaURKQxmGYT0EK9vRB3DzO4cCp3T0&s=B_5WvECYCjWRB1JSOgycw7XU1vRcKycNVDd1F4bHXNU&e="><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">http://www.itec-edu.org/application.pdf</span></a>. If you believe that your application may arrive late, notify ITEC.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <br>
</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><b>APPLICATIONS</b> can be found at: </span><span style="text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none">http://itec-edu.org/education-programs/application/</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35);">. <br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">CONTACT: <b>Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation</b>, 2911 NW 40</span><span style="font-size: 8px; line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-kerning: none"> PL, Gainesville, FL 32605, phone: 352-367-9128, email: <a href="mailto:itec@itec-edu.org"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">itec@itec-edu.org</span></a>, web: <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.itec-2Dedu.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=SwSBB_g3nQuwHqVaURKQxmGYT0EK9vRB3DzO4cCp3T0&s=Xxlttl6nTLdzfAQhhUpQVqDTJGYKFGeXV33Wkq1NSuI&e="><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">http://www.itec-edu.org</span></a>. ITEC is a 501(c)(</span><span style="font-size: 9px; line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">3</span><span style="font-kerning: none">) non-profit organization founded in 1996. </span></p></div><div><span style="font-kerning: none"><br></span></div><div><div><div>Peter N. Lahanas, Ph.D</div><div>Executive Director</div><div><div>Institute for Tropical Ecology</div><div>and Conservation</div><div>2911 NW 40th Place</div><div>Gainesville, FL 32605</div><div>(352) 367-9128</div><div>www.itec-edu.org</div></div><div>Phone in Panama: (507)6853-2134</div><div><br></div><br></div></div></body></html>