Achievement

The Amazon Field School was approved as a Study Abroad Course offered for credit. Three instructors, Stronza, Brightsmith, Fitzgerald, are teaching it during May 2010 to 11 doctoral students and one undergraduate student. Course participants represent five departments and three colleges. The three-week course introduces social and ecological complexities of biodiversity conservation in tropical ecosystems. Students are exposed to 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. The students explored a variety of terrestrial and freshwater habitats in various settings, including three ecotourism lodges, a frontier town, a national park, and a local indigenous community. A day-long symposium features 8 Peruvian conservationists and researchers. Syllabus and photos available on ABS website: http://biodiversity.tamu.edu