SECTION A: NEW WORK PLANS

PHILLIPPINES RESEARCH

Collaborating Institutions
Central Luzon State University
Remedios Bolivar

Florida International University—Lead US Institution
Christopher Brown

Objectives
To further the formal education and training of an outstanding graduate student in the Aquaculture Master’s or PhD program at the Freshwater Aquaculture Center, and to improve the capabilities of aquaculture teaching laboratories at this facility.

Significance
The educational programs at the Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Central Luzon State University have improved rapidly and are acknowledged and accredited as national leaders in this sort of specialized scientific education in the Philippines. The proposed educational work there will result in increased competitiveness Among the best students for a special training opportunity, a unique and cosmopolitan training experience for the person selected, and a general upgrade of teaching laboratories used by both undergraduate and graduate students in aquaculture.

Anticipated Benefits
We anticipate that the interest in this special fellowship will be keen, leading to striving for accomplishment among potential recipients. We are confident that the physical repairs and restocking of teaching laboratories will convey immediate benefits resulting in improvements to the quality of education in such areas as water quality management and fish disease diagnostics and control. The training of a student on an international level will help elevate the status of education at CLSU both for that student and for his or her home institution, and could thereby contribute to the process of generating a new scientific leader. In summary, we have designed the planned activities to help bring an excellent Philippine educational program further into the international community.

Research Design
A student will be selected from among participants in a graduate research program at the Central Luzon State University, with some specialized interest in aquaculture. He or she will be chosen both for the potential to benefit from the training experience, and for research accomplishments to date. During the period in which the trainee will be supported by the EDC project, participation in the continuing PD/A CRSP project at Central Luzon State University is expected in addition to the continuation of his or her own research program. Technical training will include travel for scientific exchange to both the Asian Institute of Technology and Florida International University.

Teaching laboratories have been evaluated and a prioritized list of needed improvements is under development. The planned upgrades of the teaching laboratories will include restocking chemicals, repair and calibration of instruments (such as replacement of probes, etc.), and repair or replacement of a centrifuge.

Regional Integration
The student trainee will spend approximately one week at the Asian Institute of Technology, during which time he or she will be actively involved in hatchery and growout activities and laboratory analyses. This exposure will increase the scientific integration of two regionally important aquaculture centers, and is likely to lead to further exchanges following the specific interaction to be sponsored within the scope of this project.

Schedule
This round of study and training will be begun immediately upon the execution of a Contract, as soon as funds become available. Our plan is to begin in June 2000 and complete work by April 2001.

Report Submission
Final report due on or before 30 April 2001.