| Date:
June 1- 23, 2002.
Course Title: Environmental Science, Ethics and Public Policy of Thailand. Course Rendezvous: Bangkok, Thailand. Course Dropoff: Bangkok, Thailand. Disciplines: Environmental Studies, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Geology, Biology, Cultural Anthropology. Faculty Names: David Scott Silverberg, Ph.D.,, numerous guest educators and local area experts. Course Fee: $2950 (partial scholarship available) |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
ITINERARY
|
LECTURES/SEMINARS/ FIELD EXERCISES |
REQUIRED PERSONAL CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT
|
||
|
FEES
|
||||
|
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
|
WHAT IS EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING?
|
|||
|
READING LIST
|
||||
|
COURSE DESCRIPTION Our expedition explores and studies Thailand from its spectaular southern rainforest/coral reef peninsula to its northern dipterocarp dry forest mountains. Southeast Asia is one of the world's greatest centers of biological and cultural diversity. Our 23 day course spends a week in each of three remarkable areas allowing a thorough exploration of distinct globally threatened tropical ecosystems and their human communities. We have much to learn with and from the Thai people. We take a case study approach exploring a cutting edge environmental issue in depth in each area. These issues can change significantly from year to year. In southern peninsular Thailand we will study in Khao Sok National Park. This limestone kharst topography is cloaked in primary rainforest and is home to the endangered clouded leopard, great hornbills, Asian elephant, Barking deer and Long-tail macaque. This is one of many protected areas in the peninsula, however there is enourmous pressure to convert land for agriculture, timber and energy production. If conditions allow, we spend a few days conducting snorkel inquiry-based activities in the nearby Andaman Sea. While travelling to northern Thailand we will visit and study at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in north-central Thailand. There we will have an excellent opportunity to learn about the Asia elephant and the human communities whose lives are so closely intertwined with it. From there we head north for a briefing in Chaing Mai before heading out into the deciduous dipterocarp forests of the Hill Tribes region. Here, while studying the geology and flora and fauna, we will learn about the different environmental practices of the many cultures of the region. By experiencing both relatively pristine and modified cultural landscapes in the coral reefs, rain forests and dry dirpterocarp-monsoon forests, we'll develop a framework for considering opportunities and challenges for the Thai and the broader SE Asia community. Case Studies: (1) Khao Sok National Park. How does the designation of protected areas in Peninsular Thailand further the goal of preserving biological diversity while securing economic livelihood for the region and nation? (2) Thailand Elephant Conservation Center. What are the opportunites and challenges for southeast Asian threatened and endangered species given the rapidly changing land cover and economy? (3) Chiang Mai and Hill Tribe Region. How will the traditional cultures,
agricultures, and economies of the Hill Tribe peoples remain successful
and environmentally sustainable, and will they be considered a viable
alternative to the development modes championed by the industrial West? Course Size: 12 student maximum. Evaluation: In the first couple days of the course, an individual learning contract will be agreed upon by the faculty and each student. Assessment tools may include quiz, exam, field exercises, journal, seminar participation. COURSE OBJECTIVESUpon completion of this course, a student should be able to: 1. identify the ecological zones of the Thailand. 2. describe the principal physical geographic and geologic features of Thailand and SE Asia 3. apply principles of field biology to identify common flora and fauna. 3. describe the cultural assets of Thailand. 4. describe the impacts of sprawl, farming, siliviculture, dams and tourism on Thailand. 5. describe the legal status of Thailand's protected areas, different categories of protected areas and its effects on people and biological diversity. 6. define an environmental issue and informed by a specific environmental ethic, propose a method for problem solving that is consistent with sustainable development 7. understand the role of the residential, business, government, NGO, military, education, religious sectors in designing, implimenting and managing environmental policy |
||||
|
PROPOSED COURSE ITINERARY Weather, road conditions and other factors may result in scheduling changes. 1-Jun Saturday Bangkok Rendezvous |
||||
|
LECTURE/EXERCISES/FIELD EXERCISE TOPICS 1 Environment & environmentalism in Thailand |
||||
|
READING LIST A reader will be given to each student upon arrival. The reader is composed in part of the following articles and texts: Boyes, J. (1992). A Life Apart: Viewed form the Hills. Bangkok, Silkworm
Books. |
||||
|
REQUIRED PERSONAL CLOTHING & PERSONAL EQUIPMENT Hiking Boots Tivas or other sandles Gaiters (to keep the leeches out of your pants/boots/socks Socks (wool or capilene blend), lite weight, 3pairs Liner socks, 3pairs Underwear, lite-weight capilene or poly, 3 pair Underwear, cotton 2 pair (for town) Pants, durable lite-canvas, 2 pair (e.g. carrharts) shorts Pants, cotton (for town) cotton long sleeve shirts, 2 cotton t-shirt rain hat rain poncho umbrella (can be purchased in Thailand inexpensively $5) baseball cap or other sunshade hat bandana Backpack Day Pack lite-weight Sleeping Bag Thermarest Sleeping Pad Flashlight (headlamp for nite light and reading), bring extra batteries Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman Tool Personal First Aid Kit Personal medications Personal Toiletries Personal Quick-dry Towel Sunglasses with retainers Sunscreen Lip Block Pen, pencils, personal journal Field Glasses/Binoculars Compass |
||||
A WORD ABOUT EXPEDITIONARY LEARNINGAn expedition is an intentional short-term team-based exploration in which all participants work towards accomplishing a mutually agreed upon mission. Expeditions typically take place in environments that are new to the team participants. The mission of our Thailand course is to learn, through a rigorous academically-oriented immersion, about the Thailand ecosystems and the communities whose lives are within these ecosystems. Members of an expedition team must have specific attributes to achieve success: flexibility, adaptability, patience, developing a culture of safety, good listening skills, good communication, acknowledging, respecting and utilizing differences, build on one another’s strengths, collaboration, trust, respecting one another’s physical and emotional space, a sense of humor. |
||||
|
FEES, TRAVEL, MEDICAL INSURANCE Cost: A comprehensive fee of $2950. The Environmental Learning Institute provides course transport from the Bangkok rendezvous, on-course travel, food, cooking equipment, tents, lodging, protected area fees, course reader and all scientific and research equipment. This fee does not include airfare from the student’s home to and from Bangkok, personal clothing, personal equipment expenses, personal expenses or optional travel. Participants must have medical coverage that is active in Thailand. Travel Arrangements: STA Travel, Tucson specializes in Student Tickets, Consolidator rates and International discounts for students. Veronica Duncan,
Travel Advisor STA Travel The expedition will meet at the Shanti Lodge in Bangkok on June 1 at 1800 hours (6 PM). Airport arrivals are encourage to take a taxi from the airport to Shanti Lodge. A map and lodge info will be sent to you upon acceptance. Please submit your Application form and Reference form ASAP. You will be notified of acceptance promptly. A non-refundable deposit of $300 is due no later than 10 days following acceptance in order to reserve a place in the course. Once accepted, your Medical Form, Informed Consent Form, Financial Aid Form, copy of health insurance card, and copy of the information page of the applicant's passport are required before May 15, 2002. Full tuition is due by May 15, 2002. For more information
and applications, please contact: Environmental Learning
Institute |
||||