Training opportunity for oceanographers of developing countries
Centre of Excellence Student Training in Observational Oceanography * Posted by wooyeol08 * Published: 2008-03-13
Centre of Excellence Student Training in Observational Oceanography
Centre of Excellence Student Training in Observational
Oceanography
http://www.bios.edu/education/cofe.html
BIOS is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Nippon
Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (CofE) in Observational
Oceanography. The Centre will offer a 10-month course at Bermuda on
Observational Oceanography. Tentative Programme dates are from 1
August, 2008 to 31 May, 2009. Travel and living expenses of trainees
will be covered by NF-POGO CofE.
The goals of the Nippon Foundation (NF) - Partnership for Observations
of the Global Ocean (POGO) Centre of Excellence (C of E) at the Bermuda
Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) are to expand world-wide capacity to
observe the oceans; to develop human resources in developing countries,
and to expand international networking in ocean sciences, with an
emphasis on training young scientists from developing countries.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
The training will promote excellence in integrated, multidisciplinary
oceanography on a global scale. The syllabus will include:
Ship-board training on the R/V Atlantic Explorer - our goal is to
provide numerous days at sea for each participant;
A program that emphasizes Core Skills required by scientists (e.g., com
munication skills, both written and oral, numeracy, information
technology, and science management);
Observational Oceanography training using state-of-the art
instrumentation from BIOS faculty and staff involved in the eight BIOS
time-series/ observatory programs;
Course work that emphasizes the theoretical and applied aspects of
ocean observatories and operational oceanography;
Observational Oceanography workshops delivered by previous NFPOGO
Visiting Professors including Drs. Trevor Platt, Robert Frouin, and
others; and
Guest lectures/workshops by the numerous research scientists who visit
BIOS each year for work on the R/V Atlantic Explorer.
VENUE AND BACKGROUND
Located in the Sargasso Sea, the CofE will benefit from the location of
BIOS and its eight long-term ocean, atmospheric, and near-shore
observational programs:
Hydrostation "S", the longest, year-round database at one point in the
open ocean;
The Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS);
The Oceanic Flux Program (OFP);
The Bermuda Microbial Observatory;
The Bermuda Bio-Optics Program;
The Bermuda atmospheric monitoring programs (e.g., based on
AEROCE);
The Global CO2/Ocean Acidification Programme;
The Marine Environmental Programme (MEP), a network of nearshore
research;
The Bermuda Environmental Quality Program, with a focus on local and
global water/atmospheric systems.
BIOS is home of the 168 foot R/V Atlantic Explorer. With a dedicated
student lab and berths for up to twenty-two scientists, we anticipate
students will spend considerable time at sea as part of the C of E
Course.
FORMAT OF THE PROGRAMME
Training Aboard the R/V Atlantic Explorer will be an important element
of the training session, with sea berths made available to trainees
whenever possible. Each trainee will spend as much time as possible at
sea. Course work and assignments will be modified according to the
ship's schedule.
Development of Core Skills will be done as a month-long set of
workshops, designed for students entering a graduate programme in
oceanography.
Hands-on Training in Observational Oceanography will be accomplished by
a series of seven to ten workshops, each approximately two weeks in
duration, emphasizing various oceanographic components, including
topics such as satellite oceanography, ocean physics, geochemistry,
biology, ocean-atmosphere interactions, microbial communities, and deep
sea moorings.
Courses in Observational Oceanography and Scientific Ethics and Policy
will be provided during spring semester. Trainees are expected to take
at least two of three scheduled courses.
Workshops and/or Lectures by Visiting Scientists, including hosted work
on the R/V Atlantic Explorer, will be interspersed throughout the
programme.
ELIGIBILITY AND PROSPECTS:
The course is open to about 10 participants from developing countries.
Trainees must have at least a first degree in science. Preference will
be given to applicants who currently hold a position in a research or
academic institution in a developing country and anticipate returning
to the country after completion of training at the NF-POCO C of E.
Candidates have to demonstrate immediate relevance of their training to
on-going or planned ocean observations in their home country.
Preference will be given to those with a leaning towards quantitative
analyses of biological, physical, and/or chemical data from the marine
environment. The course is seen as the beginning of a long-term,
sustained effort at capacity building in observational oceanography in
the southern hemisphere. The activities of the trainees will be
monitored for some years after the completion of the course. It is also
anticipated that the strongest participants will have further
opportunities for advanced training and scientific exchange with POGO
member institutions in other locations around the world. It is expected
that the legacy of the course will endure far into the future
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE
Applications are invited from trainees from developing countries. To
enhance international networking, preference will be given to trainees
who have close affiliations with institutions that have participated in
prior POGO programmes, such as the NF-POGO Visiting Professorship
Programme and the POGOSCOR Fellowship Programme. Preference will be
given to young researchers near the outset of their careers.All
participants will be expected to be present in Bermuda for the entire
duration of the programme. Trainees are encouraged to bring relevant
data from their home region, and will be encouraged to analyze and
publish them. The intention is to help develop a core group of
researchers who will continue to study the marine ecosystems around
developing countries well into the future, and who will also help train
the next generation of scientists in observational oceanography in the
region.
Click here to download the application form (word document).
Applications should be submitted electronically to:
Education@bios.edu
DEADLINE for Applications: April 30, 2008
Applicants will be notified if they have been selected by mid May
2008.
Course Dates:
Tentative Programme dates are from 1 August, 2008 to 31 May,
2009.
Course Costs:
The Nippon Foundation, acting through POGO, have provided financial
support for travel and living expenses of the trainees.