“Tropical Geography and Ecology in Peru” 30 July – 16 August 2009 Spend August 2009 in the rainforest of southern Peru! Tropical Geography and Ecology in Peru is a field course for introductory students, advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and other individuals interested in getting hands-on experience in rainforest biological research. Sponsored by Central Connecticut State University, The Natural History Museum of Cusco, Peru and the Peruvian nonprofit organization Oicos Habitare. This course is a chance for students to gain an in-depth experience in conducting biological research in the Peruvian rainforest. In its sixth year, the program was developed for biology majors and other students that wish to increase their knowledge of field biology and ecology. The aim of the program is for students to learn about, practice, and conduct original biological research in one of the most species diverse areas of the world. Participants will learn ecological methods for the study of plants, mammals, insects, birds, fish, and reptiles and amphibians. Before the departure date, students will indicate which organismal groups that they have the most interest in: a) plants, b) reptiles and amphibians, c) mammals, d) birds, 5) fish, 6) insects. Five different instructors (four Peruvian plus Tiffany Doan of CCSU) will be in charge of the different organismal groups. The first two days of the course will have lectures by Dr. Doan and Mr. Nuñez about general rainforest ecology. For the remaining time students will be divided into organismal groups. Each day one instructor will give a general lecture regarding their organismal group to the entire class. Later that day all instructors will give more specific lectures to their group. Students will go out in the field once with each instructor and multiple times within their own group. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students will be the directors of independent projects about some aspect of rainforest ecology. Non-biology majors will also participate fully under the direction of the advanced students. By the end of the course, all students will have developed an amazing depth of knowledge and appreciation of the beautiful tropical rainforest. At the end of the program students will participate in a cultural excursion the city of Cusco, in the Peruvian Andes, the former capital of the Incan Empire. We will tour the Incan/Spanish city and visit the ruins of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will also spend a day exploring the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu. Costs: The fee will be $2295 (plus tuition if you wish to receive credit). This fee includes all transportation from Hartford (price different if from another gateway city), all accommodations, all entrance fees, and meals while at the research station. Not included are meals while in Cusco, airport taxes (approximately $43 per person), and textbooks. Requirements for participation: fluency in English, a flexible attitude that does not mind getting dirty for the sake of science, and some hiking experience. For further information and application materials please see the course website: http://www.biology.ccsu.edu/doan/Peru%20Course.htm or contact Tiffany Doan at doan...@ccsu.edu. Applications will be accepted until 24 April 2009, but apply earlier for first choice of organismal group.
Tiffany M. Doan, Ph. D. Associate Professor Department of Biology Central Connecticut State University 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 Phone: 860-832-2676; Fax: 860-832-2594 http://www.biology.ccsu.edu/doan/ "There is grandeur in this view of life. . . from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." --Charles Darwin
