Photo: Ç. ŞekercioğluEthnobiological Research Methods Course - Kars, Turkey
13 – 21 September 2010

A Global Diversity Fund/ Biocultural Diversity Learning Network course
for researchers and students from Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
sponsored by The Christensen Fund

Course overview
This course will cover contemporary issues and current methods in ethnobiology and ethnoecology and will introduce new approaches for studying these emerging fields. The training will be conducted by Dr. Füsun Ertuğ, Dr. Gary Martin (Global Diversity Fund and University of Kent at Canterbury) and Dr. Çagan Şekercioğlu (KuzeyDoga Society and Stanford University).

The course will weave together various approaches to understanding how local ecological knowledge and practice are evolving over time. Particular focus will be given to addressing global trends that are having a local impact, such as market integration, migration and urbanisation. We will explore how to interact with local communities that are in rapid transition, helping them to draw upon their cultural and biological diversity to adapt to a changing world.

The content and organisation of this course will take into account the participants’ specific interests in subjects such as agrobiodiversity, ecotourism and traditional ecological knowledge. For this reason, the course schedule is flexible and will be tailored to the specific interests and learning pace of the whole group.

The course will take place 14 – 20 September 2010, and participants must arrive in Kars on 13 September. Transportation to Kars, room, board, and other local course expenses will be covered by the course organizers. There are a limited number of spaces available and participants will be chosen through a competitive application process.

We are particularly keen to attract participants who are engaged in current applied research on community use and management of plant resources, cultural landscapes or other projects related to ethnoecology in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The course will be conducted in English, without translation, so English fluency is essential. After a written evaluation, candidates will be interviewed in English by Dr. Gary Martin. Successful applicants should have an undergraduate degree in a field related to ethnobotany/ethnobiology/ethnoecology, or be in their final year of study. Postgraduate students are especially encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should send a C.V., name and contact information of three references (include email and telephone), and a cover letter explaining how they will benefit from this course in a single email to:

Dr. Füsun Ertuğ (etnofertug@gmail.com), Dr. Gary Martin (gary@globaldiversity.org.uk), and Dr. Çagan Şekercioğlu (cagan@stanford.edu)

The application deadline is 15 August 2010 and successful applicants will be notified by 1 September 2010.