Buccoo Reef Trust : Trinidad & Tobago


	Scholarships Contact: Project Scientist Vicki Bush +1868 304 1802
	TCEMP Marine Scholarship Application Form (30KB)

Buccoo Reef Trust (BRT), Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the United Nations Development Program GEF-SGP are seeking applicants for a series of Marine Scholarship Programs offered monthly for the next two years in Tobago. The scholarships are open to residents of Trinidad and Tobago wishing to make an active contribution towards the protection and sustainable use of Tobago’s coral reefs. This includes tourism professionals, fishermen, government employees, recent graduates from academic programs and educators. Preference will be given to suitable candidates who are residents of Tobago. There is no cost for the programs although, depending on the program, scholars are responsible for some expenses.

Three types of scholarships are available. Not all three will be offered each month. Please refer to this website for monthly updates to program availability and application deadlines.

1. TCEMP Reef Ecosystem Management Award
This one-day Saturday course includes training in snorkelling, identification of major fish and coral groups and discussions of coral reef ecology and management.

2. TCEMP ReefCheck SCUBA Award
This two-week award includes certification to PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, identification of target marine life-forms and training in ReefCheck survey techniques.

3. TCEMP Reef Conservation SCUBA Award
This intensive four-week program has scholars reside at the expedition site five days a week. Training includes PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, identification of over 300 marine life forms and rigorous scientific surveying of coral reef ecosystems.

Application Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to participate in the Award Scheme:

• Be a national of Trinidad and Tobago (18+ years of age) with a proven interest in the discipline
• Have good oral/reading ability in English
• Be medically fit to undertake project activities
• Be able to swim 200m and tread water for 10 mins
• Be able to meet the time commitments required for the award
Note that preference will be given to residents of Tobago.

Application Process

Candidates who meet the application criteria should submit an application. Please fill out and submit the application form downloadable from this webpage (see box at above right). Application forms are also available at the Buccoo Reef Trust office. Please be sure to indicate which scholarships you are applying for.

Suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Scholars who are accepted into the program will need to obtain medical clearance and purchase diving insurance (Divers Alert Network (DAN) Membership and Insurance can be bought for about US$55). Coral Cay Conservation and Buccoo Reef Trust can provide advice and guidance with these steps.

Submit Applications:
by e-mail: trcp@coralcayconservation.com

by mail, fax or in person:
TCEMP Marine Scholarship Program
c/o Buccoo Reef Trust
Cowie’s Building, Carnbee Junction
Auchenskeoch Rd.
Carnbee, Tobago, W.I.
Tel. 868 635 2000
Fax. 868 639 7333
Email. click here

Program Dates (2008)

Reef Conservation Scuba Award

Jan 2nd - 26th Jan
Jan 26th - 23rd Feb
23rd Feb - 22nd March
22nd March - 19th April
19th April - 17th May
17th May - 14th June
14th June - 12th July
12th July - 9th Aug
9th Aug - 6th September

ReefCheck Scuba Award

7th Aug - 21st
4th Sep - 18th sep
2nd Oct - 16th Oct
30th Oct - 14th Nov
27th Nov - 11th Dec

Reef Ecosystem Management Award

26th Jan
23rd Feb
22nd March
19th April
17th May
14th June
12th July
9th Aug
6th Sept

Scholars with appropriate SCUBA certification may join the program for Science Training. Scholarships will continue to be offered in the fall. Please monitor this webpage for updates.

Detailed Program Descriptions

TCEMP Reef Ecosystem Management Award (REMA)

This one-day course, available one Saturday each month, provides training in:
basic snorkelling technique
• identification of major fish and coral groups
• introduction to survey techniques and data interpretation
• basic coral reef ecology
• lectures and discussion on coastal ecosystem threats and management
The course runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm and accommodates 10 participants. Participants must bring their own mask and snorkel, provide their own transport to the expedition site in Tobago, and supply their own lunch.

TCEMP ReefCheck SCUBA Award (RChSA)

This two-week course provides training in:
• scuba diving (to PADI Advanced Open Water Certification)
• identification of target marine life forms
• conducting internationally recognized Reef Check global reef monitoring surveys
• interpretation of survey data
The course runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, weekdays for 2 weeks, once a month. The program accommodates two participants. Lunches would be provided at the site. Diving equipment is provided however participants are responsible for their own insurance*. Participants are also responsible for their own transport to the site.

TCEMP Reef Conservation SCUBA Award (RCoSA)

This four-week intensive scholarship course provides training in:
• scuba diving (to PADI Advanced Open Water Certification)
• identification of more than 300 marine life forms
• conducting detailed, scientifically rigorous surveys of coral reefs
• interpretation of survey data
The course runs from 6:30am to 9:00pm weekdays for four weeks with two positions available in each program. This program is the training given to international volunteers who conduct the surveys generating the data for the TCEMP. It is preferred that participants reside at the site in which case room and board are provided. Diving equipment is provided however participants are responsible for their own insurance*.

*Divers Alert Network (DAN) Membership and Insurance can be bought for about US$55.

Scholars who already have PADI Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification do not need to complete the SCUBA Training portions of the programs and can join at a later date.