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Applied Biodiversity Science

Teaching, Research, Extension and Service

"Bridging Ecology, Culture, and Governance
for effective conservation"
 

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Study Abroad Courses

Below is a list of Study Abroad Programs that are led by ABS Faculty members.  Instructor names in italics are ABS Associated Faculty.

 

View of Tambopata RiverAmazon Field School, Tambopata, Peru

Instructors: Dr. Don Brightsmith (Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology), Dr. Lee Fitzgerald (Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences), and Dr. Amanda Stronza (Dept. of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences)

Description: The course introduces students to the social and ecological complexities of biodiversity conservation in tropical ecosystems. Students engage in a variety of field methods from the biological and social sciences to evaluate the causes, consequences, and solutions to biodiversity loss through the lenses of ecology, culture, and governance.

(more info)

 

Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester

Instructors: Dr. Donald Brightsmith (Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology), Dr. Ian Tizard (Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology) , Dr. Thomas Ficht (Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology), Kevin Curley (Dept. of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences)

Description: Students will receive an in depth introduction to Costa Rican and Latin American health, conservation, culture, and nature, then learn and use Spanish through a combination of classes and home stays. Immunology and Biochemistry will be taught with a “Latin flavor” to show how these sciences are applicable to Costa Rica and the world outside the classroom. Students will visit a local school and learn about the health and diet issues facing Latin America, then follow it up with a field trip to a national park and night walk on the beach looking for endangered sea turtles.

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Dominica: Tropical and Field Biology

Dominica Study Abroad 2012
2012 Dominica study abroad class
(Photo courtesy T. Lacher)

Instructors: Dr. Tom Lacher (Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences), Dr. Jim Woolley (Dept. of Entomology),

Description: Students conduct field research and complete both individual and group research projects at the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center and adjacent Morne Trois Piton National Park. The research topics include vertebrate ecology, insect ecology, veterinary studies, plant-animal interactions, coral reef ecology, and aspects of Dominican environmental policy. Students design projects, collect data, analyze results, and prepare professional research articles for both the group and individual projects and maintain a natural history journal.

(more info)

 

The Ecological and Human Dimensions of Biodiversity Conservation and Nature-Based Tourism in Southern Africa

Instructors: Dr. Urs Kreuter (Dept. of Ecosystem Science & Management), Dr. Robert Shaw (Dept. of Ecosystem Science & Management), Dr. Toby Hibbitts (Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections), Dr. Gary Voelker (Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences)

Description: The overall goal of the Southern Africa study abroad program is to create an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain first-hand experience of various facets of biodiversity conservation and nature tourism in Africa. Four specific objectives of the course are: (1) Students will experience and be able to discuss factors affecting biodiversity conservation in a developing country; (2) Students will gain an appreciation of the complexity of interactions among biophysical and human factors affecting nature tourism in a developing; and (3) Students will observe the role that public, communal and private land tenure systems play in biodiversity conservation and nature tourism in a developing country; and (4) Students will experience a high degree of human diversity in a multi-cultural society.

Read more about the course in this article

 

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand: Natural Resources

Instructors: Dr. Gerard Kyle (Dept. of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences)

Australia Description: This Australia study abroad program will examine the natural (and related social) history and environmental conservation of Queensland, Australia. Queensland has a wonderful year-round tropical climate and boasts some of the most diverse and remarkable natural resources in the southern hemisphere. An initial stay at James Cook University (Cairns) will be followed by an exploration of the network of national parks, reserves, offshore islands, and coastal areas of norththeast Queensland, before returning back to Cairns for a couple of days to complete the program. In the field, we will snorkel (scuba diving is optional) and explore the marine wildlife and coral of the Great Barrier Reef, learn about Aboriginal culture and history, investigate costal management practices of the offshore islands, and explore the rainforest of Daintree National Park to study the diverse flora and fauna of northeastern Australia. Our program will focus on topics related to sustainable development (sustaining human societies and the natural environment) through educational travel, field trips, active participation, lecture, presentations and seminars, and coursework exercises.

Course Objectives

    1. Understand the natural history, biogeography, ecological diversity, and related social and cultural contexts of Australia through an exploration of Queensland’s network of national parks and protected areas, which encompass the Outback, rainforests, coastlines, marine reserves, and offshore islands;
    2. Understand the impacts of human actions on the natural systems, and human responses to those changes, using the case of Queensland, Australia;
    3. Develop an understanding of ecological education practices, integrated natural resource management, and conservation actions throughout Queensland, Australia;
    4. Be able to address relationships between human societies and their natural environments from multiple disciplinary perspectives and to develop a complex, multi-faceted and holistic view of human – environment connections that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Fiji Description: The Fiji program will examine human and cultural aspects of Fijian ecology and the conservation, preservation, and management of Fiji’s unique system of marine, coastal, and mountain/rainforest natural resources. Students will use applications in cross-cultural analysis and techniques to explore the management and conservation of natural resources with a focus on issues related to human use of plant, forestry, wildlife, ecology, recreation and tourism, and/or costal/water resources. The impact of humans on these resources will also be emphasized, including a long term historical perspective. Like the Australian program, The Fijian program will also focus on topics related to sustainable development (sustaining human societies and the natural environment) through educational travel, field trips, active participation, lecture presentations and seminars, and coursework exercises. The goal of this course is using the Fijian case to integrate the different perspectives of diverse natural, biological, and social science disciplines to improve understanding of relationships between human societies and the natural environment. The impact of humans on natural resources and their sustainable use and conservation will be emphasized.

Course Objectives

    1. Understand the geography, ecology, natural history, and social and political contexts of the Fijian islands;
    2. Understand the impacts of humans on the natural environment;
    3. Develop a working understanding of traditional Fijian knowledge of the natural environment, such as in plant use and maritime and subsistence practices;
    4. Be able to address relationships between human societies and their natural environments form multiple disciplinary perspectives and to develop a complex, multi-faceted and holistic view of human – environment connections that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

New Zealand (and Sydney) Description: This course uses two distinct contexts to explore issues of sustainability, conservation, and biodiversity. Beginning on the South Island of New Zealand, we explore topics related to sustainable development (sustaining human societies and the natural environment) through educational travel, field trips, active participation, lecture presentations and seminars, and coursework exercises. The goal of the New Zealand Program is integrate different perspectives drawn from the natural, biological, and social sciences to improve understanding of relationships between human societies and the natural environment.In Sydney, the program’s focus moves from the remote natural environments of New Zealand’s South Island to an urbanized, human‐influenced context. The Sydney program focuses on urban sustainability in/around the metropolis of Sydney, a city that is home to nearly a quarter of Australia’s population. Topics include urban sustainability (including energy use, carbon emissions, and global climate change), conservation of natural resources for human use (tourism/ recreation, agriculture, and preservation), and urban planning (land use and transportation).

Course Objectives

By the end of the program students will:

    1. Understand the natural history, biogeography, ecological diversity, and related social and cultural contexts of New Zealand through an exploration of the South Island’s network of national parks and protected areas;
    2. Understand the impacts of human actions on the natural systems, and human responses to those changes, using the case of New Zealand’s South Island and the Sydney Metropolitan Area;
    3. Develop an understanding of ecological education practices, integrated natural resource management, and conservation in both wildland and urban contexts;
    4. Be able to address relationships between human societies and their natural environments from multiple disciplinary perspectives and to develop a complex, multi‐faceted and holistic view of human – environment connections that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
    5. Know and appreciate the impacts of human actions on natural systems and human responses to those changes.
    6. Understand social change and urban planning in/around Sydney.

(more info)