The School for Field Studies (SFS)

SFS programs in Tanzania take place in world-famous national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas, and Indigenous communities and small villages. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, human-wildlife conflict, tourism impacts, and climate change. Tanzania has made progress in protecting its large populations of charismatic wildlife, but this rich landscape faces many challenges. Our research concentrates on understanding the impacts of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and competition for resources and promotes successful coexistence between humans and the country’s incredible wildlife.

SFS programs in Australia take place in the country’s ancient rainforests, with excursions to the edge of the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and land use change. Research at our Australia Center focuses on the environmental threats that have caused rainforest fragmentation, species loss, and reef die-off, and we work with the Mandingalbay Yidinji Indigenous people and Tablelands communities on restoration and management projects to help Australia thrive in a time of ecological uncertainty.

SFS programs in TCI take place largely in the coral reefs, cays, and waters surrounding the island, but time is also spent above-ground with the community on the island. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as biodiversity conservation, environmental policy, and fisheries management. These marine ecosystems are critical to the fisheries-driven local economy, and are under enormous pressures from coastal development, a rising demand for seafood, and the impacts of climate change. Our research plays an important role in supporting Turks and Caicos residents and government authorities as they work to balance economic need with the preservation of irreplaceable natural resources.

SFS programs in Chile take place across the contrasting landscapes of Patagonia, from jagged peaks, massive glaciers, and narrow fjords to expansive grasslands and the lush temperate rainforests growing at the base of the Andes. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, tourism impacts, and sustainable livelihoods. The fragile ecosystems of southern Chile and Argentina are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – unpredictable storms, glacial melt, shifting temperatures, fires, and droughts. Our research in Patagonia examines ecology and geologic systems, how conservation decisions are made in the region, and species found nowhere else on the planet.

The SFS program in Peru is based in the rich ecosystems of the Amazon, with excursions to the highlands of the Andes, visits with Indigenous communities, and meetings with diverse shareholders. The forests of the Peruvian Amazon are increasingly under threat from climate change, rapid development, and extractive activities like logging and mining. Our research here provides important insights into the fate of the Amazon and all the life that depends on it. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental ethics and justice, and sustainable livelihoods.

SFS programs in Panama take place in the diverse environments of the Bocas del Toro archipelago – coral reefs, mangrove islands, inland rainforests, and sandy palm beaches. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, tourism impacts, and ecosystem health. Climate change and increased tourism on the islands have led to ecosystem and natural resource degradation while also threatening islanders’ traditional livelihoods. Our research on the environmental impacts of tourism and development on the natural ecosystems in Bocas provides the community with data necessary to support more sustainable policies and protect the beautiful islands so many call home.