International Education Program in River Science

            One of the most important goals of our river society in its early developmental phase is to establish an international education program in river science. With the advice and help of the membership, we plan to develop this program and raise the needed grant support over the next 1-3 years so that we will have a well-developed education program for the next biennial conference in Berlin, Germany (2011).

            The program is still in the early planning phase with no details having been finalized. Below are some initial ideas being considered, and we hope that you will feel free to comment and offer suggestions. For the time being, send your comments to Prof. James H. Thorp at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA at thorp@ku.edu.

Course Type: We anticipate offering 2-4 courses on general and/or specific river science topics at different skill levels, with the host            country selecting the course which best fits their needs from those we develop.
Where: Any country could apply as a potential host for the course.
When: This would be negotiated between the host country and ISRS; it would need to consider the availability of volunteer professors            drawn from different countries as well as the needs of the host country.
How Often: This is unknown at present and it will also depend on the amount of grant funds and donations we have to support the            program and the number of professors volunteering, but it may be possible eventually to offer courses in multiple countries in the            same year.
Length: 2-3 weeks per course.
Language: The courses are expected to be taught in English. However, if grant funds are            sufficient, ISRS will attempt to prepare CD copies of the lecture in several other            languages for distribution to the participants taking the courses.
Participants in the Host Country: The composition of the class will vary by country            and course, and participants will be selected entirely by the host country based on            their own criteria. We expect, however, that participants will have some scientific            background whether their current job is at a government agency, private company,            or university. We hope that a portion of the class will consist of the future            generation of river scientists drawn from the country’s students at universities and            colleges.
Professors: The courses will be taught by teams of 2-3 professors with different specialties (e.g., a fluvial geomorphologist combining            with a river ecologist) drawn from a group of volunteers in different countries around the world. Professors will be selected for            specific courses based on their expertise in a given area and their availability during the time the host country prefers to offer the            course.
ISRS Responsibilities: The ISRS will provide the professors (perhaps two per course) and course materials (e.g., CDs of the            powerpoint lectures along with written material), and we hope to be able to cover airfare costs.
Host Country Responsibilities: The host country is expected to organize the course at their level, select the student participants,            provide teaching  facilities, arrange field trips as appropriate, and provide for the needs of the professors. The latter will include            suitable housing, meals, and perhaps some opportunities for cultural activities so that the professors can better appreciate the            unique attributes of the host country.
Costs: This will vary according to the ability of the host country to cover expenses, but the percentage covered will not be a factor in            selecting the host country. The professors teaching the course will be offering their expertise for free. The ISRS will attempt to            raise funds from national and international agencies, foundations, non-government organizations, and individuals in an attempt to            cover as much of the expenses as possible, especially for courses taught in economically disadvantaged countries. The host            country can charge a nominal fee for participants in the course, but the charge for this tuition should be kept as low as possible.            These courses are not intended to be a money-making proposition for either the host country or the ISRS.