University of Michigan
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Example 1: Environment and Sustainable Development in San Jose, Costa Rica. In the ICADS' semester-long Field Program, students gain research experience in both the natural sciences (forest ecology, agro-ecology, soil sciences) and social sciences (anthropology, history, economics) while learning to address environmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students are provided with the analytical tools and research expertise to make meaningful contributions to ongoing work in the area of “sustainable development,” with the recognition that workable solutions to environmental conflicts can only come from an understanding of the intersection between community needs, ecosystem dynamics, and political-economic systems. Example 2: Wildlife Management Studies in Tanzania. Work with local communities to assess the impact of land and water scarcity on humans and wildlife and learn how to promote natural resource management. The curriculum focuses on how changes in land use can be managed to benefit local communities while safeguarding biodiversity. You will learn about economic, policy, and environmental drivers and implications of demographic change, and hear lectures by park wardens, wildlife veterinarians, and field researchers. Example 3: EcoExplorers Gabon - Design/Build. In May 2016, students in the Eco-Explorers course traveled to Gabon to partner with two rural villages to design and build projects including improved cook-stoves, beehives, solar lighting, and a prototype of a waterwheel to make a few volts of power.

http://lsa.umich.edu/cgis/programs/africa-and-the-middle-east/wildlife-management-studies-in-tanzania.html http://arts.umich.edu/news-features/u-m-stamps-students-find-new-inspiration-through-international-experiences/