Achievement

Amazon Field School In January 2009, 3 ABS faculty and the Coordinator accompanied 10 students (8 ABS Trainees and Associates + 2 undergrads) to the Peruvian Amazon for the field training component of the ABS Program. The three-week Amazon Field School serves as an introduction to the social and ecological complexities of biodiversity conservation in tropical ecosystems. Students were 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. Interdisciplinary teams examined all sides of complex issues surrounding the region’s conservation challenges. Syllabus and photos available on ABS website: http://biodiversity.tamu.edu