Prior to departure, student participants will be given six weeks of preparatory online classes in
(a) the French language and
(b) the fundamental concepts of conservation sciences relevant to this project.
Students will then spend one month in Gabon and will work collaboratively with their Gabonese student counterparts and international mentors in the development of team research projects in one or more disciplines. Beyond the classroom, this will foster cultural exchange while allowing students to experience the breathtaking beauty and diverse wildlife of Gabon's rainforests.
Classroom and field instruction will be given by scientists from collaborating institutions including the University of Michigan, the Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, the University of Omar Bongo, the Gabonese national park service, the University of Lausanne and the French Research Institute for Development and the Agricultural Research Center for Sustainable Development.
On returning to the U.S., a series of professional development workshops will be organized to provide guidance in future career development and networking opportunities.