In association with the Harvard University Summer School, the Center for Tropical Forest Science and the Arnold Arboretum (CTFS-AA) will offer a field biology course to be held in Sarawak and Sabah (East Malaysia) from 1 July to 5 August 2008. Ten Southeast and South Asian participants will join 10 US students to study terrestrial and marine biodiversity, ecology and conservation, with instructors from Harvard University and other institutions.

The forests and reefs of northwest and north Borneo have some of the highest levels of alpha diversity in the world. The forests are home to orang-utans, hornbills, rhinos and thousands of tree species, and the reefs offer some of the best diving in the world. We will visit world-class parks and reserves (e.g., Lambir, Kinabalu and the Maliau Basin), to gain a thorough understanding of abiotic controls on species composition, and will contrast processes that maintain biodiversity in forests with those operating on coral reefs. Throughout Borneo, intensive logging and marine harvesting have occurred for many years. Our course will explore the complexities of conservation today, including trips to sustainably-managed, carbon-traded, and restored forests. We will also provide opportunities for the students to meet people living in and off the forest, to understand their motivations for forest conversion and conservation, and to consider the human health dimensions of forest change.
A key feature will be the development of skills in research project design, execution and analysis, based around the statistical platform `R.’ The students will complete two independent projects, from conception to presentation, and participate in a group project on the coral reef. The students will gain database and web publishing skills by developing a community digital record of the trip.

The course is aimed at advanced undergraduates, recent graduates currently active in biological research, and postgraduate entry-level students. Travel, food, accommodation and course fees will be funded for Tropical Asian nationals (ASEAN, PNG, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China) by the CTFS-AA program. Students will be responsible for other costs and some students may be requested to pay their international travel. Places may be available for non-Harvard, non-Asian, paying students. Students will be selected to provide broad international representation.

For more information on the course (including instructions for application) see:

* http://www.summer.harvard.edu/2008/programs/abroad/borneo/
* http://phylodiversity.net/borneo-course/.

A flyer is available for posting on notice boards:

* http://phylodiversity.net/borneo-course/docs/borneo2008_flyer.pdf

Completed application materials should be directed to Cam Webb (c/oborneo2008@phylodiversity.net.