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The course is targeted at students and professionals in biology, marine biology, veterinary and related subjects. Priority is given to those who work within sea turtle research and conservation projects, so strengthening the actions of the Venezuelan Work Group on Sea Turtles (GTTM) or similar organisations in their own countries. The course provides basic information on sea turtle biology and conservation techniques. Since 1992, more than 160 people, including students and professionals from Venezuela and Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico have taken part in this course. This year requests have already been received from Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Argentina, Haiti and Suriname.

Course details: The course is intensive and is 7 days in length, including theory, practical sessions (including field work at night) and the use of video resources. The performance of participants is subject to evaluation which is an integration of a number of different components, totalling 100 points. Participants with 80 or more points receive an approval certificate. The course will have instructors from Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba.

General requirements for acceptance: 1) a personal letter explaining the motivation for participation; 2) Curriculum vitae with details of referees; 3) two photos. 4) Letter of recommendation. For students this should be an academic letter of recommendation; for professionals this should be an institutional recommendation letter. NB 1) Applications without all the above will be not evaluated. NB 2) Applications by fax or e-mail will not be considered. NB 3) Deadline to receive applications: April 14, 2000.

Selection notification: April 17, 2000. Foreign participants can pay when they arrive in Venezuela in US$.

Registration costs:

Students from developing nations: US$ 200*;
Students from developed nations: US$ 300*;
Students from developed nations: US$ 600**
*These costs include coffee breaks, meals and transportation between Rio Caribe and Puy Puy Beach

**This cost includes lodging, meals, coffee breaks and transportation between Rio Caribe and Puy Puy Beach.

NB: All the participants must pay their own transportation costs to Rio Caribe and meals as detailed in (*) and (**). No fellowships for travel to Venezuela are available.

Transportation costs: The aerial trip between Caracas and Carupano (1 hour) costs US$ 110. The same trip by bus has a cost of US$ 40. The aerial trip from Isla de Margarita to Carupano has a cost of US$ 40. From Carupano, the participants can take a taxi or van (5 people per vehicle; US $3 each). It is necessary to sleep one night in Rio Caribe (May 2, 2000).

Lodging and meals: Participants from Venezuela and developing nations must make a complementary contribution of US$ 120 per person which corresponds to the value of accommodation and meals.

Further details or applications to: Hedelvy Guada, WIDECAST, Apdo. 50789. Caracas 1050-A. Venezuela Courier address: Edif. Inca. Piso 5, No. 54, Av. Casanova, Sabana Grande. Caracas 1050, Venezuela (Phone: +582-761-0680; (014) 932-7713 (Cellular); Fax: + 582-762-8485 E-mail: 95-79050@usb.ve Web page: <http://www.geocities.com/cardonrace>