Student Opportunity for Cuba

Call for Applications

Furgason Fellowship International Student Workshop

Marine and Coastal Management in the Gulf of Mexico

Havana and Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba, November 13-20, 2016.

Deadline: June 20, 2016

Fostering science based solutions to meet management needs

As we face the challenges of sustainable growth and biodiversity conservation, the need for solutions that combine the voices of managers, researchers, and local citizens has gained momentum. Scientists and policy makers across the Gulf of Mexico are in a unique position to develop cooperative strategies that can lead the way toward achieving healthy environmental and human communities.

The 3rd Student Workshop in Marine and Coastal Management in the Gulf of Mexico will take place from November 13th to 20th, 2016, in Havana and Maria La Gorda, Cuba, and will be organized by the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi and CIM (Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, Cuba) at the University of Havana, with support from the Furgason International Fellowship.

During the first part of the course, students will have the opportunity to participate in the Gulf of Mexico Health+ Trinational Workshop where they will engage with experts in Marine and Coastal research from Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. Students will learn about cross disciplinary efforts to develop a common platform to monitor environmental and anthropogenic pressures affecting the health of human and ecological communities in the Gulf of Mexico. Main topics to be discussed will include habitat and critical marine species conservation, fisheries, oceanographic measurement, and new challenges associated with tourism.

At the conclusion of the meeting, students will travel to the Guanahacabibes National Park and UNESCO Biosphere, in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, to explore the potential impacts associated with 1) marine protected areas, 2) marine turtle conservation, 3) marine debris, 4) diving and cruise tourism industry, and 5) environmental impacts.  During this second part of the workshop, participants will get hands on experience on the challenges of managing resources within a multicultural and international environment; meet new peers, practitioners, and researchers; acquire skills in how to best communicate science; participate in thematic discussions and a seminar series; and develop an outreach product.

We invite applications from graduate students in the U.S. (U.S. nationals) who are enrolled as of June 1st in Master or Ph.D. programs with a focus on environmental resource management, environmental sciences, environmental anthropology or social sciences, policy, marine sciences, and coastal management. We are particularly interested in candidates that can demonstrate an interest in solving conservation problems at the interface of policy and science, who are familiar with applied and innovative approaches to dealing with the challenges of managing protected areas and endangered resources, or are interested in developing science based solutions that can contribute to improving community well-being. We are also eager to host students that may see a future in working in conservation and research in the Gulf of Mexico.

To apply for the program, please submit required documents by June 20th 5:00 pm Central Time to this address:

hri@tamucc.edu

Requirements for application:

1.      Statement of interest (no longer than 800 words): Please address how participation in this program will help advance your professional (academic and career) and personal goals?

2.      Non-official transcripts.

3.      Letter from advisor or main supervisor showing support for applicant.

4.      Provide the name and contact information for 3 references.

5.      Copy of valid U.S. passport with expiration date at least 6 months past November 2016. In addition, applicants are required to have no impediments for international travel or any kind of restrictions that may prevent them from obtaining a visa for visiting Cuba.

Although proficiency of Spanish language is not a precondition to participate, some level of knowledge of this language is desired. Final announcements of selection will be made by mid July 2016.

The fellowship will cover roundtrip transportation from the U.S to Cuba, living expenses, and in-country travel expenses.

Due to international travel restrictions and other circumstances beyond the control of the organizers, the current itinerary may be subject to change.

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Victoria C. Ramenzoni, Ph.D.
Environmental Anthropologist
Assistant Research Scientist,
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies,
Texas A&M Corpus Christi, US.

361-825-2087