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<DIV><B>DURHAM COURSES ON FRESHWATER ALGAL IDENTIFICATION</B><BR><BR>Venue: Bede
College and School of Education, University of Durham, Durham, UK<BR>Organisers:
Professors Brian A. Whitton (Durham) and David M. John
(London)<BR><BR><B>Introduction to Freshwater Algae</B><BR>Sunday 3 July -
Friday 8 July 2011<BR><BR><B>Advanced Course Blue-Green and Green
Algae</B><BR>Sunday 10 July - Thursday 14 July 2011<BR><BR>The aim of these
courses is to train staff from government agencies, water management companies,
other<BR>companies, consultancies, research students and overseas visitors and
researchers in the identification of<BR>the commoner and
environmentally-important freshwater algae. Ecological information on nuisance
and the<BR>more widespread species is also included, together with some aspects
of monitoring and how to deal with<BR>problem algae. The large majority are
microscopic but included are macroscopic forms, especially those<BR>important
for assessing the ecological status of flowing water.<BR><BR>The Introductory
Course deals mainly with algae from the UK and adjacent countries, but the
Advanced<BR>Course includes some information from other regions. In addition to
the three hundred or so from the UK<BR>who have attended these courses since
they started in 1992, participants in recent years have come from<BR>many other
countries including Costa Rica, Germany, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Sierra
Leone, South<BR>Africa, Thailand, Turkey and USA.<BR><BR>Members are encouraged
to bring a laboratory coat and boots for a short field visit and (preferably)
fresh<BR>algal samples from their local waters. Everything else is provided
including access to the second edition of<BR>The Freshwater Algal Flora of the
British Isles (including accompanying DVD) and three identification CDs.<BR>Some
may find it useful to bring their own portable computer, and the risk of loss is
covered by insurance.<BR>Overseas members need not bring a laboratory coat or
clothes for the field visit – these will be loaned.<BR>The 2011 manual will be
posted to participants about a month in advance of each course.<BR>Course
leaders Prof. David John and Prof. Brian Whitton. Dr Alan Donaldson (consultant)
helps with both<BR>courses. Dr Gordon Beakes (University of Newcastle) and Dr
Martyn Kelly (Bowburn Consultancy)<BR>contribute to the Introductory
Course.<BR><BR><B>Introductory Course</B> Starts late afternoon on Sunday 3rd
and ends after lunch on Friday 8th, with an<BR>optional excursion to sites on
River Wear on the Friday afternoon.<BR><B>Advanced Course</B> Starts late
afternoon on Sunday 8th and ends at 1600 on Thursday
14th.<BR><BR><I>Programme</I> The courses are a mixture of lectures and
practical work, together with a short field visit<BR>(Cassop Vale pond) on the
Introductory Course and a longer one (Sunbiggin Tarn and region) on
the<BR>Advanced Course. Lectures run until 2110 each evening, including the
Sundays. Full details of lecture<BR>programmes and parts of the training manuals
used in recent years can be emailed to anyone
requesting<BR>them.<BR><BR>RESIDENCE AND MEALS<BR>Hild-Bede College is on a hill
above the River Wear and has a fine view over the river and city; it also has
an<BR>excellent reputation for food and drink. Arrangements can be made for
special diet requirements. Plenty of<BR>parking space is available inside the
college. Accommodation is provided (without additional charge) for<BR>anyone
needing to arrive one day early because of travel arrangements and also for the
two intermediate<BR>days for those attending both courses.<BR><BR>TRAVEL<BR>Rail
Durham is on the main rail line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh.
Trains are about once an<BR>hour and the journey from London (260 miles) takes
three hours. Overseas members should contact the<BR>organizers for advice on
buying their ticket. (Advance booking is essential to get the cheapest - there
are<BR>huge differences in fares according to how and when you book.) Hild-Bede
College is about 1.5 miles from<BR>Durham railway station<BR>Air The nearest
airport is Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Avoid Teesside and Durham airport, unless this
provides<BR>the only suitable flight. There is a rail route from Newcastle
airport to Durham, though this involves changing<BR>at Newcastle main rail
station and the overall journey can take anything from one to two hours,
depending on<BR>the connection at Newcastle. A taxi from Newcastle airport to
Durham (26 miles) takes 35-45 minutes and<BR>costs about £45. The organizers
usually collect members at the airport, but it is not always possible to do
so<BR>for the return journey.<BR><BR>COSTS include everything; there is no VAT
(tax) charge.<BR><B>Introductory Course</B> The inclusive price for participants
other than full-time research students is £900. The discounted<BR>price for
students is £750.<BR><B>Advanced Course</B> The inclusive price is £
620.<BR>Combined Introductory and Advanced Courses The inclusive price is £1420.
This includes accommodation<BR>for one day in advance (if required) and the two
days bed and breakfast accommodation between courses.<BR>Course members who want
to stay one or more days longer after the end of the course may reserve
this<BR>in the College, though this must be done in advance. Bed and Breakfast
costs about £35 per night.<BR><BR>BOOKING<BR>Booking Provisional and firm
reservations for one of the places (15 on Introductory Course, 10 on<BR>Advanced
Course) should be made by email to <A
href="mailto:b.a.whitton@durham.ac.uk">b.a.whitton@durham.ac.uk</A>, to be
followed by an official order<BR>OR a deposit of £50 to B.A.Whitton Algal
Training, 74 Archery Rise, Durham DH1 4LA, UK. This deposit<BR>need not be paid
by overseas people provided their order is made from an official organization.
Payment is<BR>required by 15 May. A full refund (excluding any deposit) will be
made to anyone cancelling before 15 May,<BR>while 50% refund will be made to
anyone cancelling by 15 June.<BR><BR>FURTHER INFORMATION<BR>Anyone wanting
further information is welcome to contact <BR>Brian Whitton: <A
href="mailto:b.a.whitton@durham.ac.uk">b.a.whitton@durham.ac.uk</A> phone
0191-386-7504 or<BR>David John: <A
href="mailto:d.john@nhm.ac.uk">d.john@nhm.ac.uk</A> or <A
href="mailto:d_m_john@ntlworld.com">d_m_john@ntlworld.com</A> 0208-464-6367
or<BR>07920224825 (mobile)<BR><BR><BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>