Students leapt out of their textbooks and across the hemisphere last winter. After a semester of studying and researching ecological theory, undergraduates in professors Catherine Cardelús and Eddie Watkins’ Tropical Ecology course embarked on a three-week expedition across Peru.
The course allowed students to live and learn from their surroundings, applying their knowledge of the ecosystems they studied in the fall semester to hands-on fieldwork in environments ranging from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes Mountains. Students adapted to varying conditions while balancing active research, precise data analysis, and the creation of presentations.
Experiencing ecological issues firsthand enabled them to connect classroom learning with real-world contexts, exploring the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, cultures, and local communities. The trip fostered independent thinking and curiosity as students faced challenges and bonded while exploring the Peruvian landscape.
