Biodiversity in the Land of the Machusi
Study Abroad in Guyana
Winter Intersession 2009-2010
Document southern Guyana’s biodiversity—flora, fauna, habitats, and ecosystems—for future evaluation of human impacts (global climate change) in the seldom visited forests of the Machusi Indians. Participants travel to Rewa Ecolodge at Rewa Village (a Machusi Indian settlement of about 100 inhabitants) to evaluate biodiversity in the floodplains of the Rewa from a scientific and journalistic point-of-view to produce a PowerPoint Presentation in Guyana at CEIBA Biological Center, and a National Geographic-like photo-journalism article. Graduate students produce a NG-like Research and Exploration scientific article.
Godfrey Bourne, Associate Professor of Evolutionary and Tropical Ecology at UMSL, will be leading the program with Karen Redden, Research Associate of Tropical Plant Systematics and Ecology.
Dates:
January 4-16, 2010
Location:
Rewa River, Guyana
Costs:
Program Fee $2650
Educational Fees for 3 credits (undergraduate fees: $773.40; graduate fees: $932.70)
N.B. It is prudent to have a minimum of US $100 in cash for your own spending.
Program fee includes roundtrip airfare, airport exit tax from Guyana, accommodations at CEIBA Biological Center and Rewa Ecolodge, all meals (multicultural Guyanese cuisine), overland small plane trips in Guyana to Rewa and Kaieteur Falls, and HTH Insurance
Courses:
Students will earn 3 lab credits.
BIO 4905 (undergraduate students) OR
BIO 6905 (graduate students)
Housing:
Students will stay in primitive accommodations (i.e., living in huts in the rainforest, cold showers with black-water from a spring, using flushing outhouses etc.). This course is not for everyone. Participants must be relatively healthy—expect living in close quarters, biting insects, encounters with spiders, snakes, mud, travel in motorized dugout canoes, some physical exertion, fascinating biodiversity, and bragging rights.
Mandatory items:
Students must bring a digital camera and laptop computer with them to complete the program coursework and project.
Tentative Itinerary:
M 4 Jan: Participants fly to Guyana and will be met by Bourne (Day 1)
T 5 Jan: Orientation @ CEIBA @ 09:00am, lunch at Noon, practice censusing techniques 02:00-04:00pm, up 04:00-06:00pm, and dinner @ 06:00pm at CEIBA; Discussion of Individual Projects Each Night After Dinner, 08:00pm night natural history walk, early to bed 10:30pm (Day 2)
W 6 Jan: Travel to Timehri Airport 08:30am for trip to Lethem by small plane(s), one stop at Kaieteur Falls CEIBA for 1 h. Boat ride from Lethem to Rewa Ecolodge (Day 3)
Th 7 Jan: Begin projects at Rewa; basics in photography and video journalism workshop (Day 4)
F 8 Jan: Continue research activities at Rewa (Day 5)
S 9 Jan: Continue research activities at Rewa and begin to organize data (Day 6)
Su 10 Jan: Rewa – continue projects (Day 7) Rewa – continue projects, and analyze data and prepare project as a PowerPoint Presentation (Day 8)
T 12 Jan: Rewa – continue projects, and analyze data and prepare project as a PowerPoint Presentation (Day 9)
W 13 Jan: Depart Rewa for Lethem for flight back to Timehri and CEIBA; begin putting together PowerPoint presentation (Day 10)
Th 14 Jan: CEIBA - PowerPoint Presentation by students with surnames beginning with M-Z (Day 11)
F 15 Jan: CEIBA Continue presentations A-L (Day 12)
S 16 Jan: Participants and Karen Redden Return to USA. Bourne shuts down CEIBA (Day 13)
Su 17 Jan: Bourne continues to shut down CEIBA
M 18 Jan: Bourne returns to USA
S 23 Jan: Papers due (electronic submission of Word doc [Compatibility Mode]) to bourneg@umsl.edu
Interview/Mandatory Orientation:
In Oct., all students must set up interviews with Prof. Bourne by calling 314-709-9134. In addition, all students are required to complete the online orientation for the program as well as an in-person group orientation, organized by the Program Coordinator. More information, including the fall orientation date, will be announced shortly after your acceptance.
Application:
Applications are due by the deadline Oct. 15 (or until program is full) along with a $500 non-refundable deposit, which will be applied to the Program Fees. The remaining balance of the program fees ($2150) will be due on Dec.4. Program fees must be paid by check or money order only and payable to UMSL. Instructional fees will be billed to your student. Educational fees for 3 credits will be billed to your UMSL student account as normal. Applications may be printed below or obtained at the Study Abroad Office in 261 MSC or from either of the Program Coordinators.
Application Materials:
1. UMSL Study Abroad Application Form
2. Non-refundable $500 deposit (due at time of application - check payable
to UMSL, credit cards not accepted )
3. Scholarship application and scholarship essay (UMSL students only - must be taking class for credit)
Payment Schedule:
Oct. 15: $500 non-refundable deposit due (will only be refunded if not accepted in program)
Dec. 4: Remaining balance due ($2150)
Program Coordinator
Godfrey Bourne
Associate Professor of Evolutionary and Tropical Ecology
University of Missouri–St Louis
Department of Biology
470 Stadler Hall
314-516-6674
bourneg@umsl.edu
Study Abroad Office
Jenny Bazzetta
Center for International Studies
261 Millennium Student Center
314-516-6983