The HYDRA Institute for Marine Sciences was founded in 1995 by four German biologists and a geographer to promote scientific investigation of the Mediterranean region at a field station equipped to conduct both biological and geographical research, provide professional training and allow for various field activities including scuba diving. The institute is conveniently located right above the Bay of Fetovaia in the SW of Elba Island, Italy and allows for easy access to the sea and simultaneously provides an intriguing land based geological setting. The Island of Elba therefore offers an ideal base for a comprehensive land and marine based field trips to the Mediterranean region. From the institute you have a beautiful view on to the peninsula of Fetovaia and the neighbouring islands over to the snow-covered tips of the mountains of Corsica. The steep high mountains of the Mount-Capanne-massif cause the formation of various vegetation types and plant societies, which are treated intensively during the vegetation-geographical courses. The institute holds facilities on the Island of Elba where all the year round scientific activities are conducted. The HYDRA-Institute for Marine Sciences is visited by groups from universities, schools and other institutions for their own field trips and classes. Master and Ph.D. students and researchers from different nations use the facilities for their field research. We offer a variety of intensive training courses during university vacations in spring and summer/early fall such as Mediterranean marine biology and island geography. Every evening an introducing lecture gives the theoretical background for the next day's program. The courses are on the upper undergraduate/graduate level simultaneously providing introductory explanations to beginners or participants of related specific scientific disciplines, allowing scientists, researchers, specialists, students and general public to gain insight into the biology and ecology of the Mediterranean ecosystems. For your convenience, any group interested in doing a field trip to the HYDRA-Institute can request and pre-arrange individual course programs to accommodate your exact needs. Additionally linked to the institute there is the Centro Marino Elba, a professional diving center run by German scuba instructors according to VDTL-rules (Verband Deutscher Tauchlehrer, German Association of Diving Instructors, Member of CEDIP). The diving center offers complete diving gear for rent, 2 compressors (450l per min each), three larger boats (room for 24 divers or snorkellers) and equipment for sampling, measuring and surveying. The marvellous diversity of the Mediterranean Sea can best be observed, first hand by divers and snorkellers. Because of this, scuba diving plays an important role in our marine courses. Our facilities also include two well-equipped classrooms offering 22 work places with stereo and compound microscopes, where non-divers and divers both can have the breath-taking opportunity to observe some of the living organisms in detail with the help of optical instruments allowing for further study of their various features and adaptations. For demonstration and documentation we provide microscopes with digital photo and video equipment.
The 2008 course program in detail:
All of the courses will be held in German, (though all teachers and staff speak English and other languages including Italian, French, Spanish and Swiss). Scuba diving course is always a possibility, except for course "Methods of UW Research". Medical certification required.
(10 - 20 August* / 13 - 23 September)
This course investigates the world of Mediterranean invertebrates and deepens the knowledge in systematics and morphology: systematic and taxonomy of invertebrate groups, functional morphology and adaptations, life in the natural habitat, ecology of marine invertebrates, and larval development.
Fee: EUR 540.- (*summer course EUR 570.-)
(02 - 12 April / 30 July - 09 August* / 24 September - 04 October)
Typical coastal biotopes of the Mediterranean Sea as sea grass beds, sandy bottoms, rocky hard bottoms, and the biogenic hard bottoms are presented. Their importance for the whole ecosystem is highlighted and discussed. Characteristic species are observed in their natural environment. Plants and animals are determined and categorised ecologically later on in the lab. Further aspects focus on the environmental problems and anthropogenic threats that the Mediterranean Sea has to continuously face in the future, and ways to manage and preserve our beautiful coastal environments.
Fee: EUR 540.- (*summer course EUR 570.-)
(22 March - 01 April / 21 - 31 August * / 02 - 12 September)
This course introduces the basics of marine ecological systems. The combination of investigations of the biotic and abiotic environmental factors and studies on the organisms living in this ecosystem gives the tools for the analysis of ecological phenomena and the understanding of actual environmental conflicts. Topics are basic processes in oceanography, seawater chemistry, plankton communities, and the taxonomy and ecology of algae and marine invertebrates.
Fee: EUR 540.- (*summer course EUR 570.-)
(19 - 29 July*)
This course meets the frequently expressed interest of many guests in this important vertebrate group. The basics of evolution and systematics, zoogeography, morphology, ecology and behaviour of Mediterranean fishes are treated. Field observations and experiments, lab identification, dissection of selected species (fish market and by-catch), analysis of gut content and parasites are performed to gain an over all view of this fascinating group. Guest lecturer is Dr Thomas Paulus, ichthyologist, and author of several papers and a recent book on Mediterranean fishes. He is diving instructor and underwater photographer as well.
Fee: *summer course EUR 570.-
(26 September - 06 October)
SCUBA diving as a method for biologists, geologists, geographers, archaeologists and other scientists is an effective tool for investigating scientific related research objectives. The use of different equipment, as well as the planning, performance and successful termination of a research project by using scuba is introduced and trained. In order to avoid the potential risks associated with diving, the awareness of safety rules is a priority at HYDRA. This methods-orientated course will provide experiences with working under water, under water cartography, measuring, documentation, sampling techniques and a final report.
The course is for certified divers only. No diving course is attached.
Fee: EUR 540.-
Graduate students can conduct their research at the HYDRA-Institute for Marine Sciences living on the Island of Elba for any duration of time required by them to complete their field research. There are only a few places per year available. A short detailed description of the proposed research project and a short personal resume (CV) are required as well as a supervisor at the home university.
Reduced students bench fees allow for access to all lab facilities, optical instrumentation, scuba tanks and a 4.5m-15hp-inflatable boat. The use of e-mail is possible through arrangement with the institute staff. Participants must cover all costs for living, housing and travelling. For under water work guests may rent dive gear or they can use their own diving gear. All use of goods such as fuel, chemicals, test tubes etc. must be paid for separately or replaced.
The HYDRA-Institute is a private institution and many universities accredit the course certificates, but it cannot provide any academic degree.
For further information and application please contact:
HYDRA
Institute for Marine Sciences
Education Office
Bothmerstr. 21
D-80634 München
GERMANY
phone: +49-89-130 60 131
fax: +49-89-130 60 132
e-mail:
ifm
hydra-institute.com
or contact directly the Italian field station
Centro Marino Elba
Via del Forno 80
Localita Fetovaia
I-57034 Campo nell'Elba (LI)
phone: +39-0565-988 027
fax: +49-89-130 60 132
e-mail:
cmehydra-institute.com