The Regional Training and Research Center on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health (MarBEST Center) was inaugurated in the Research Center for Oceanography- Indonesian Institute of Sciences (RCO-LIPI) on 17 October 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The MarBEST Center is committed to addressing the “taxonomic impediment” in tropical marine biodiversity studies in view of the dramatic declining numbers of taxonomic specialists on specific organisms.

Its first training course on Crustacean Taxonomy was held on 17-29 October 2016, and now the second training course at the MarBEST Center is being scheduled from 25 September to 6 October 2017 upon the kind invitation of the Government of Indonesia. It will focus on Molecular Taxonomy based on Single DNA Barcoding and Metabarcoding. This training course will last for two weeks with the number of trainees limited to 25.

The course is primarily targeted at young researchers and lecturers from universities and research institutions from member states in the Western Pacific and adjacent regions, including ASEAN countries, and various stakeholders engaged in marine conservation and environmental protection. Priority will be given to young scientists and junior technical staff who have knowledge and/or working experience in molecular marine taxonomy.

Given the limited financial resources available, some of the most qualified applicants may receive financial support upon request after careful selection by a committee established jointly by Indonesia and WESTPAC.

Details and updated information regarding this course will be made available at the WESTPAC website (http://iocwestpac.org) and the Indonesian Institute of Science website (http://lipi.go.id).