ANT COURSE 2007: Southwestern Research Station (SWRS), Portal, AZ, August 2-12, 2007

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: April 1, 2007

http://www.calacademy.org/research/entomology/ant_course/


COURSE OBJECTIVES. – ANT COURSE is designed for systematists, ecologists, behaviorists, 
conservation biologists, and other biologists whose research responsibilities require a greater 
understanding of ant taxonomy.  Emphasis is on the classification and identification of more 
than fifty ant genera of North America.  Lectures will include background information on the 
ecology, life histories and evolution of ants.  Field trips are structured to teach 
collecting and sampling techniques, and associated lab work provides instruction on 
specimen preparation, sorting and labeling.  Information on equipment/supply 
vendors, literature, and myrmecological contacts are also presented.

COURSE SIGNIFICANCE. – Ant Course is a unique opportunity to acquire training that is 
unavailable elsewhere.  This course will provide students with 1) the confidence and skills to 
identify the major ant genera of North America; 2) an understanding of modern specimen processing 
and curation techniques; 3) an appreciation for the biological diversity of ants, and 4) 
experience keying to the species level.

SPONSORS. –California Academy of Sciences and Museum of Comparative Zoology, with partial 
funding from the National Science Foundation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION. – ANT COURSE will be taught from August 2 – 12, 2007 at the 
Southwestern Research Station (SWRS) in Portal Arizona 
(<http://research.amnh.org/swrs/>http://research.amnh.org/swrs/). 
The Station is centered amid the richest ant fauna in North America.  This is an ongoing course, offered annually.

PARTICIPANT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA. – ANT COURSE is open to all interested individuals. Priority will 
be given to those biologists for whom the course will have a significant impact on their research 
with ants.  An entomological background is not required.  We aim to include students with a 
diverse interest in biology, including ant systematics, ecology, behavioral biology and 
conservation.  The high instructor to student ratio will allow students to receive individual 
attention. ANT COURSE is presented in English and limited to 25 participants

COSTS. – Tuition for the 10-day COURSE is $475 for current students and $675 for 
non-students.  In addition, Southwestern Research Station (SWRS) fees for this period, covering 
dormitory room and board, are estimated at $460.  Transportation costs between home and 
Tucson (air) or SWRS (auto) are to be borne by all participants.

FELLOWSHIPS. – Four fellowships are available for 2007.  Two fellowships cover tuition fees and two 
fellowships cover station fees.  Foreign students may apply for additional fellowships to assist in 
travel.  Those interested in attending the course should seek all possible avenues to secure 
funding for the course.  You should only apply for the Ant Course fellowship if you can not find 
other support and it is essential for your participation in the course.  Beware that if you 
apply for an ant course fellowship it implies that fellowship funding is essential to your 
participation in the course.  Thus, if you are not selected for a fellowship, you might not be 
accepted into the course.  Please notify the course if your funding request status changes 
before the application due date.