*CORAL REEF RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN ROATAN (July 22 ?August 19, 2017)*
*PROGRAM LOCATION: *The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS),
Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras.
The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) is excited to offer a
4-week long Coral Reef Research Internship this summer. If you are
interested in coral reef ecology and conservation, this internship will
provide a unique opportunity to live on a small Caribbean island and gain
valuable field research experience on one of the most biologically diverse
and well-developed reefs in the Caribbean.
RIMS was founded in 1989 with the primary objective of protecting Roatan?s
natural resources through education and research. In almost three decades
our facility has established itself as a dedicated teaching institution and
we are visited throughout the year by colleges and universities from abroad
to study tropical marine ecosystems. Our facility is ideally located on
the northwest coast of Roatan with easy access to miles of fringing and
barrier reef, seagrass beds, and mangrove communities.
*INTERNSHIP DATES:* The 4-week internship will run from July 22 through
August 19, 2017.
*ELIGIBILITY: *The program will be limited to 12 interns and is open to
upper level undergraduate students or recent graduates with a genuine
interest in coral reef ecosystems. Students must be 18 years old at the
start of the internship and SCUBA certified. We do not offer course credit
for the program, but due to the intensive structure of the course, we
encourage successful applicants to arrange for independent studies or
undergraduate research credit through their home institution.
*INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION:* During the 4 weeks spent on Roatan, students
will interact with staff experts and visiting faculty as they investigate
and explore a variety of coral reef environments. Through lectures, site
visits and practical field exercises, students will learn the flora and
fauna of the region and understand the roles of different ecological
processes on a coral reef.
Through collaborative research activities, mentorship and independent
research projects, students will receive direct exposure to reef monitoring
methods, as they develop, implement and communicate their own research. In
addition to the academic and research opportunities our program provides,
interns will also gain important cultural and social development. This
internship is a chance of a lifetime and the transformative experiences
students will be exposed to can contribute to personal growth and career
advancement.
Under the direction of professional mentors and marine biologists and RIMS
staff, students will engage in a wide variety of activities and gain
experience in the:
– Field experience in the Identification of Caribbean coral, fish,
invertebrates and algal species
– Application of field research methods to assess coral cover,
abundance, and reef health
– Development and implementation of an independent research project.
– Participation in reef restoration projects and maintenance and
monitoring of our coral nurseries.
– Management of invasive lionfish populations through collaboration with
the Roatan Marine Park.
– Participation in field trips on and around Roatan.
– Interaction with local conservation professionals.
*COURSE FEE:* The fee for the course is *$2975.00 USD*. The fee includes
full room & board, diving, tanks and weights, lab and classroom fees,
airport transfers, off site field excursions and all applicable taxes.
*APPLICATION DEADLINE*: Applications are due by March 31st, 2017.
Applications will not be accepted if all the required forms have not been
received.
For more information about the Coral Reef Research Internship at RIMS and
to access the *Application Form* please visit our webpage at:
www.roatanims.org
*CONTACT INFORMATION:* For more information or questions about the
internship please contact:
Jennifer Keck
Education & Research Coordinator
Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences
internship@roatanims.org
011-504 9556-0212 <+504%209556-0212>
www.roatanims.org