2012 SFP Summer Field Course, Mongolia
The Zoological Society of London's Mongolia-based Steppe Forward Programme (SFP) provides students from Mongolia and all accredited colleges or universities with a unique opportunity to learn about Mongolian biodiversity and conservation challenges and ecological fieldwork skills and tools in a unique natural setting amongst Mongolia’s steppe grasslands.
Applications for the 2012 Summer Field Course are now open. The closing date for applications is Monday 23rd April 2012.
If you wish to join us on the course please send an email to nathan.conaboy@zsl.org expressing your interest using ‘Field Course’ as the subject heading.
The course brings together a diverse group of Mongolian and international students bound by a common passion for ecology and environmental sustainability.
The field based course will be taught by conservation practitioners and scientists from the Zoological Society of London with input from lecturers from of the National University of Mongolia amidst Mongolia's unique rolling Steppe grasslands, in the Hustai National Park - famous for it Przewalski's Horse reintroduction programme.
Students will experience traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle, camping, eating locally sourced traditional Mongolian food.
Take a look at:
Dates
27th July- 17th August 2012 (The course is three weeks in length).
Location
The field course will take place in the Buffer Zone of Hustai National Park, about 100km south-west of the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
Hustai National Park lies in the foothills of the southern Khenti mountain range and represents steppe and forest steppe ecosystems. Apart from the famous Przewalski’s horse and its re-introduction programme, the park has a wide variety of fauna and flora including 459 species of vascular plants, 217 species of birds and 44 species of mammals including Mongolian gazelle, wild sheep, ibex, Mongolian marmots, grey wolves, lynx and Pallas’ cat.
More information about Hustai National Park
Accomodation
Whilst at Hustai, students will stay in a small camp, sharing tents with other students. There will be a fully equipped kitchen and dining facility where meals will be served. Classrooms will be set up in a separate ger and most lessons will be held outdoors. Gers are large, round, traditional Mongolian tents.
Coursework
The field course is a unique academic opportunity that allows students to learn from leading conservation practitioners and gain an appreciation for ecological processes and become equipped with the tools to study these processes.
The course will consist of introductory field techniques backed up by practical hands-on sessions in the field. Morning lectures will coincide with designated labs and topical discussions allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to practical sessions.
You will receive the course pack before your arrival that includes the course schedule, reading, assignments and field session guidelines which will help you prepare in advance for the course.
Typical daily activity will revolve around a morning lecture and afternoon field work which will provide an opportunity for students to interact closely with the course instructor(s), and to collaborate with other students who share the same interests.
SFP prides itself in offering an “outdoor classroom” format where concepts and theories will be discussed and practical enquiry can be honed and tested in field conditions. Ideas and interests will be shared and we hope that the students will be inspired to contribute towards the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.
Topics covered under the course will include:
- Study design and key protocols
- Data collection: random and stratified sampling methods, laying and monitoring of transects, direct and indirect methods, collecting data on field attributes, point counts, mark-release-recapture, mist netting, camera traps.
- Data analysis: null hypotheses, basic statistics and analysis of collected data.
- Presentation of analysed data
Evaluation
Students will be graded on the following:
Field practical
The field practical is a chance for students to test their newly acquired field skills to answer a testable question in groups. They will be led through the formulation of ideas as a group, presentation of their ideas to the instructors and rest of the group, field data collection, analysis and an oral presentation. Field practicals stress the community nature of science and successfully communicate results to the wider community.
Journal
You will be required to keep a journal while you are in the field site. The journal will act as an account of the daily work of students in the “classroom” and beyond it. A certain number of entries are required and will be a reflection of experience on the site and day to day activities.
Participation
Participation will be graded on attendance, punctuality, group discussions, presentations and overall effort for the course.
Quizzes
Periodic quizzes will be given during the course as a means of keeping students up to date with assigned readings and gauge whether any particular topic was unclear during the lectures.
Language
English and Mongolian (translation provided).
Eligibility
1st to 3rd year biology or related subject undergraduates from a recognised higher education institution.
Students in good academic standing from all major colleges and universities may apply for the course.
Application information and deadlines
Applications for the 2012 Summer Field Course are now open.
The closing date for applications is Monday 23rd April 2012
For further information please download the 
information pack (1.1 MB) or email nathan.conaboy@zsl.org.
Application check-list:
- CV or Resume
- Transcript of academic record from higher education institution
- Essay: a short essay of no more than 500 words describing why you have chosen to participate on the Steppe Forward Programme Field Course
- Letter of recommendation from faculty advisor or instructor
Please send all materials as attachments by email to nathan.conaboy@zsl.org
Costs
£1,100
This includes accommodation on arrival, transport to and from the field site, and food and accommodation during the field course. It does not include flights, visas, travel insurance and food whilst in Ulaanbaatar. N.B. Visas are not required for US citizens staying under 90-days.
About the Steppe Forward Programme
The Steppe Forward Programme is a collaboration between the Zoological Society of London and the National University of Mongolia. Since 2003, we have developed and implemented a wide-range of conservation projects across Mongolia.
At present, these projects include field courses, wildlife camera trapping, conservation assessments for the production of National Red Lists, publishing of field guides to the birds and mammals of Mongolia, and implementing conservation projects on species such as the long-eared jerboa and the wild Bactrian camel.
Education, awareness raising and training are of real importance for conservation in Mongolia. The Steppe Forward Programme has a strong record in these areas, in particular through organising and running student field-courses.
The Steppe Forward Programme aims to empower Mongolians to create and manage conservation programs by providing them with tools necessary to design and monitor their own conservation initiatives, assess wildlife populations and design ecological studies.
The programme intends to significantly strengthen skills and develop initiative amongst Mongolian professionals working in ecology and conservation, providing capacity for continued high standards of training and practical conservation needed in Mongolia.
Contact Information
Steppe Forward Programme
- Email: nathan.conaboy@zsl.org
- Address: Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ikh Surguuliin Gudamj 1, Ulaanbaatar 210646, P.O. Box 46A/537, MONGOLIA
