Actividades: Cursos BDRI.

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute - BDRI offers comprehensive and intensive Bottlenose Dolphin Research Courses (BDRC) during the 2008 Winter Season for motivated individuals, who are seeking thorough training in approaches to the study of free ranging wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We invite you to join our ongoing study of the behaviour, habitat use and social lives of these amazing dolphins on the Emerald Coast, Sardinia Island (Italy).

These intensive educational courses provide experience in specialized non-invasive research techniques, consisting of field sessions and lectures. The courses will last 6 or 13 days, and - weather permitting - we will be out on the water at least during 4 or 8 of these days respectively. Although our project focuses primarily on bottlenose dolphins, you will also experience the complex Mediterranean coastal ecosystem in which we live and work.

BDRI field courses provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work hard, have fun, and learn from the dolphins and each other. Learning, at its best, should be an active process, one in which the students are challenged on a daily basis with responsibilities that play a large part in the outcome of the research projects. Working with us and our staff, you will rotate between tasks on land and sea. Onboard our research vessel (Spartana) you will work together with our team in search of cetaceans. To refine details of bottlenose dolphin population biology and responses to human activities at sea, we will take identification photos, observe behaviour, and monitor vocalizations using a hydrophone.

Research courses can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but students are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the training course.

BDRI's courses give an insight into the workings of a research team, and provide experience in a wide range of areas including scientific data collection, analysis and presentation; giving public talks and much more.

To be successful participants in this project, students should have open minds, flexibility in changing situations, and a desire to help and to learn. All classes will be in a form of both (a) lectures that will lead to more "informal" discussion, hopefully ending with a constructive brainstorming on the specific topic, as well as (b) instructions with hand on practical component, especially when it involves field techniques.

• Course 1. Bottlenose dolphin: Field methods in the wild (1st Team: 28 January; 2nd Team: 24 March)
• Course 2. Study of bottlenose dolphin behaviour (11 February)
• Course 3. Bottlenose dolphins Photo-identification & Social structure course (1st Team: 25 february; 2nd Team: 31 March)
• Course 4. Bioacoustics of bottlenose dolphins in the wild (10 March)

Further information, fees and how to apply can be found on our website www.thebdri.com or by e-mail at info@thebdri.com