CERC is now accepting applications for the Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) field site program at Brazil. This five-week-long, 6-credit program runs from May 26 to June 30, 2012. No pre-requisite coursework is necessary and students of all majors can apply. Interested students can also apply for fellowships with CERC for additional funding.
The SEE-U course in Brazil is hosted by the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecologicas (IPE) at its Center for Conservation Biology. The Institute is currently pursuing over thirty ongoing research projects that prospective students can engage in through their course fieldwork. Students live in dormitories at the IPE headquarters in Nazare Paulista during their stay in Brazil.
The Institute is located in Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest, a temperate forest that is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems of the planet and one of Conservation International’s 25 biodiversity hot spots. Students conduct fieldwork in the Atlantic Rainforest and go on guided excursions to observe its unique biodiversity as part of their course. The Institute also neighbors reservoirs, eucalyptus plantations, and pastures. Winding backcountry roads through hills and reservoirs provide exciting environments for recreational activities such as hiking and swimming.
Students spend one week in Serra do Mar National Park in Picinguaba, Brazil. The park is home to waterfalls and a mountainous terrain that fosters more opportunities for students to study native Brazilian plant and wildlife.
An example of prospective coursework and the class curriculum can be found here.
To learn more about SEE-U Brazil and other SEE-U courses available this summer, visit our website or contact CERC directly at cerc@columbia.edu or 212-854-0149.
