Wake Forest University Peru: Tropical Biodiversity and Environmental Journalism (Summer)

Peru boasts magnificent natural and cultural diversity. It is considered the world's second-most diverse country for birds, as well as having the third-greatest mammal diversity, and the fifth-greatest plant diversity.  Not coincidentally, Peru was the ancient heartland of numerous pre-Columbian civilizations including the Chavín Civilization, Paracas Culture, and vast Inca Empire. Immersion in this setting allows students to see and experience the ways nature and culture mingle and how the past informs the present. On this program, we visit five of Peru's ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites and examine the co-mingling of flora, fauna, and geology with temples, parks, and residences.

The intensive, field based Peru program provides hands on experiences in the wide range of environments Peru has to offer. The group travels by plane, train, boat, and bus to numerous sites over a three and a half week period. The program itinerary changes slightly from year to year, but past iterations have begun in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire where students can explore the colonial city. Along the way, students conduct research projects in cloud forest and visit famous Inca ruins including Machu Picchu, sample local cuisine, and learn Quechua phrases. Next, students descend through the cloud forest brimming with wild orchids and stunning birds before travelling on to Manu National Park, located in the Amazon basin. The group travels by boat down the Alto Madre de Dios River to Cocha Cashu Biological Station, in the heart of the largest tropical wilderness left on earth.  Cocha Cashu is home to healthy populations of giant otters, white-lipped peccaries, jaguars, and 13 species of monkey. 

Students take BIO 349 Tropical Biodiversity (4 hrs) and/or JOU 288 Travel Journalism (3 hrs). For those that do not need a  4hr BIO course, BIO 303 (3hrs) will be available as an alternative. The interdisciplinary design of this program gives students a unique opportunity to experience one of the wildest places on Earth and consider its natural and cultural significance through intensive, field based research, on-site interviews and experience. Course work will consist of daily lectures, readings, hands-on field research, a full range of journalistic interviewing, reporting and writing skills and techniques, and a final project.  At all the sites they visit, students will be collecting, analyzing, and identifying a wide variety of plant species, and evaluating the possible stories and blog posts that emerge from interviews and observations. Journalistic reporting is the critical means by which decision makers and the public get information about environmental issues. The communication can be as important as the science itself, but it is rarely explored in tandem.  


Students will engage directly with the research programs of the professors and are encouraged to pursue projects of their own after the courses. Opportunities for fieldwork, reporting and internships are available. 
For more information, see also:
http://tropicalbiodiversity.blogspot.com/
http://myperuviansummer.blogspot.com/

Justin Catanoso
Director of Journalism
Phone: (336) 758 3916
E-mail: catanojj@wfu.edu

Miles Silman
Professor of Biology
Phone: (336) 758 5596
Email: silmanmr@wfu.edu 
 

Students stay in a variety of accommodations including hotels, hostels, cabins, and tents.

 

• Good academic standing
• Interest in Peruvian culture and journalism
• No course prerequisites or language requirements

The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:

• Program Fee - Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.
• Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2021 summer rate was $900/per credit hour. Expect a slight increase for summer 2022. 
• Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
• Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students' spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.

Program Fee - $4350
Tuition (6-7 hours) - $5,700 - $6,650
Airfare (estimated) - $1,200
Personal Expenses (estimated) - $400
Estimated total cost - $11,650 - $12,600

Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies.
Deadline: February 15th

Sullivan Scholarships may be available for students participating on this program. Awards up to $2,500. To apply go here http://college.wfu.edu/biology/undergraduate/sullivan-fund/ 

The Journalism deptartment has a scholarship available for this program. Contact Prof. Catanoso for more information. 

Justin Catanoso
Director of Journalism
Phone: (336) 758 3916
E-mail: catanojj@wfu.edu

Miles Silman
Professor of Biology
Phone: (336) 758 5596
Email: silmanmr@wfu.edu 

Sean McGlynn
Study Abroad Advisor
Center for Global Programs and Studies
116 Reynolda Hall
Phone: (336) 758 3194
E-mail: mcglynsd@wfu.edu