I took this course back in the early 1980s and it is one of the best courses in plant taxonomy that you can find. It’s an intensive course but it takes place in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, surrounded by tropical and subtropical vegetation. Dr. Judd does a superb job and the field trips go to some of the most interesting natural areas of southern Florida. – Steve Young
The University of Florida, Department of Botany and The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, in collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, will offer an intensive, in-residence course/workshop on the systematics of tropical plants, in Coconut Grove, Florida, from June 25 – July 13, 2012.
Instructor: Dr. Walter S. Judd (Course Director, Department of Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, PO Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525; e-mail: wjudd@botany.ufl.edu; phone: 352-273-1983; fax: 352-392-3704).
The Course: Tropical Botany is an intensive course of study in the biology and systematics of tropical plants. Subject matter will be largely based on the extensive holdings of tropical vascular plants at Fairchild Tropical Garden, The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the Montgomery Botanical Center These gardens have the largest living collections of tropical plants in the United States. Additionally, field trips will be made to the Florida Everglades, the Florida Keys, and adjacent natural areas. The natural vegetation of South Florida, which includes littoral and dry land habitats, mixed tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and mangrove communities, will introduce students to the diversity of tropical vegetation. The object of the course is to provide advanced students and/or professionals with a detailed coverage of the systematics, phylogeny, diversity of structure, and economic botany of tropical vascular plants. Questions concerning the course should be addressed to Dr. Judd.
Credit-hours: Tropical Botany is taught as a workshop sponsored by The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, with the collaboration of Fairchild Tropical Garden. If academic credit is desired students may enroll in either BOT 6935 (graduate) or BOT 4935 (advanced undergraduates) and receive 2 (or more) semester credit-hours. These courses are offered by the Department of Biology, University of Florida, and they can be taken by non-U.F. as well as by U.F. students. Students may also arrange for academic credit from their home institutions.
Enrollment: Limited to 12 participants, with preference given to upper-level students or professional biologists/teachers.
Application: Individuals should apply by April 16th, 2012 (to Dr. Judd, see address above). Applications should include the following: a letter stating reasons for taking the course, a curriculum vita, and a letter of recommendation (sent separately). Applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 7th, 2012.
Accommodation: Students will be housed at The Kampong (Tyson dormitory in the Scarborough House), but, if desired, housing is also available at a hotel near Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Facilities at The Kampong include 2 dorm-style rooms with bunk beds, shared kitchenette for self-catering, laundry facility and wifi access. Dorm fees are $25 per day payable directly to The Kampong.
Fees/tuition: A course fee of $1550 is required to cover course/workshop costs. In addition, if U.F. academic credit is desired, tuition costs are $498.09/ credit (in-state, graduate), $188.55/ credit (in state, undergraduate), $1222.81/ credit (out-of-state, graduate), or $931.12 /credit (out-of-state, undergraduate).
Dr. Walter Judd
New York Flora Association Blog 