🚀 go-pugleaf

Dear Colleagues,


Here at the University of Sussex, we are considering setting up a 
Masters programme in evolutionary biology (an M.Sc.).  We are doing 
"market research" to ascertain the demand for such a course.  Please 
have a look at the brief description below, and then send an email to 
evolution@biols.susx.ac.uk giving your opinion on whether we are likely 
to be able to recruit at least 10 students per year.  Any evidence that 
you can provide to support your opinion would be appreciated, but it is 
not necessary.  Please indicate whether you are a prospective student, 
faculty, or whatever.


Faculty contributing lectures to the course are to include:
*** John Maynard Smith ***
Andrew Pomiankowski
Adam Eyre-Walker
Inman Harvey
Joel Peck
David Waxman


For more information on these faculty (except for Andrew 
Pomiankowski), see http://www.biols.susx.ac.uk/CSE/people.html .  Dr. 
Pomiankowski's home page can be found at 
http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/stalkies/pom.html.  We intend to recruit Dr. 
Pomiankowski to Sussex if the programme goes ahead.  We also hope 
to recruit another laboratory or field-based evolutionist, who will also 
contribute to the course.


The M.Sc. programme will take one calendar year to complete.  
Students will do course work, plus a supervised research project.  
Courses and research will be tailored to individual student needs.  We 
hope to help students from diverse backgrounds to become evolutionary 
biologists.  Special efforts will be made to help students incorporate 
evolutionary approaches into their particular area of interest, be it 
molecular biology, mathematics, or computer science.  The course will 
provide an excellent preparation for students who wish to advance to a 
Ph.D. programme at Sussex, or elsewhere.


The cost of the one-year programme will be approximately 2800 ukp for 
European Community citizens, and 9600 ukp for students from outside 
the European Community.  In American dollars, this is about $4000 for 
EC students, and $13,600 for students from outside the EC.  These 
costs do not include room and board.  The University provides financial 
aid to some students.


The School of Biological Sciences is a top-rated research institution 
(RAE Grade 5) and was founded by Professor John Maynard Smith, 
who remains an active member of the School.  The University is also 
home to many other evolutionists and ecologists.  In addition, the School 
houses the Centre for the Study of Evolution 
(http://www.biols.susx.ac.uk/CSE/) and one of the world's leading 
groups studying genetic algorithms and evolutionary robotics 
(http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/lab/adapt/index.html   and   
http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/ccnr/).


The University of Sussex is located in Brighton, which is one of the most 
fun towns in Britain.  We are by the sea, 50 minutes from central 
London by train, and on the edge of the South Downs (an officially 
designated "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty").  It is a place where 
people come to enjoy life.  See http://www.brighton.co.uk/ for more 
information on Brighton.


Note that, at present, there appears to be no M.Sc. programme in 
evolutionary biology in Britain.


Please let us have any information available to you that might help us to 
decide whether it is likely that we will be able to recruit 10  or more 
students a year to come to Sussex for the Masters programme in 
evolutionary biology.   The email address for your reply is 
evolution@biols.susx.ac.uk.


Many Thanks!
The Centre for the Study of Evolution