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Conduct research in the Galapagos Islands
with this autumn 2009 honors study tour course!
Students will enroll in the course "Galápagos: History and Future of a Natural Laboratory" for autumn quarter 2009. The course will meet on Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:30-4:45pm during autumn quarter. The course is cross-listed under 15EVST609H and 15BIOL609H.
Students and faculty will travel to the Galapagos Islands immediately following the end of autumn quarter 2009. Tentative travel dates are December 10 - 24, 2009.
The course preceding the trip will prepare students in terms of the history, geology, biodiversity, and environmental issues confronted in the Galapagos. The Galapagos are a natural experiment, not only for plants and animals but also for a full range of conservation and environmental issues that humans face on a global scale.
During the travel component and field work, students will address a research question very similar to the kinds of questions pursued by career field scientists. Students will collect and analyze data using the same methods employed by professional biologists and environmental scientists. It is hard to imagine a better way for a student to gauge her/his interest for a career in science or environmental studies than to practice science in perhaps the most pristine and diverse natural laboratory in the world!
Students will develop a project during the course, prior to departure. Instructors will guide individual (or team) student projects to complement each other such that the entire class will be acting in some fashion as a team of researchers. Nightly gatherings during the travel component will be used to compile data obtained during the day and exchange information amongst the teams.
The course is open to students from across disciplines. However, please contact the professors if you have not had an entry level or higher course in biology or environmental studies.
Categories of Possible Research Projects
Costs
We expect each participant to pay $2800-3000. This is tentative as final details are arranged.
The total per person cost will actually be $5700-6000; however, that cost is being offset by grants to lower the expected payments to the $2800-3000 range.
A deposit payment of $100 will be due on April 1, 2009. Students who are accepted will be contacted about this deposit.
Immunizations and Health
Participants should consult with their physician in regard to vaccinations and other health issues related to traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Many travelers get vaccinations through travel clinics. Many travelers get prescriptions for antibiotics to bring with them. Please consult with your physician.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traveler’s health website on Ecuador is an excellent resource.
Application
Students must apply to participate. Application deadline is March 2, 2009. Download the application:
Galapagos Application (MS Word)
Darwin Sesquicentennial
The year 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species (24 November 1859) and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth (12 February 1809). In recognition of these anniversaries, departments across UC are sponsoring events and programs celebrating Charles Darwin's life and work. This Galapagos study tour is one of those programs. For more information on Darwin related events and programs at UC, go to the UC Darwin website.
Questions?
Contact Debbie Brawn (debbie.brawn@uc.edu or 556-6226).
   
   
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