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Ceiba Conservation GIS in the Tropics

Ecuador, Quito, Ceiba Conservation GIS in the Tropics

Ecuador, Quito

Apply GIS (Geographic Information System) skills to real-world conservation problems in Ecuador, South America through this hands-on field experience. At a remote biological station set in a tropical coastal forest, you will practice a variety of applications of GIS in conservation, participate in data collection and analysis phases of ongoing research programs, and apply your skills in a small-group conservation GIS project in collaboration with the Ceiba Foundation that fills the needs of local Ecuadorian organizations and communities.

The program overall totals four weeks, beginning with two weeks of online instruction followed by a two-week field expedition to Ecuador. The Ceiba Conservation GIS in the Tropics program allows you to implement basic and advanced projects in QGIS, a leading software platform in the field. This training will largely take place in an intensive, online learning format. The field component in Ecuador will provide hands-on practice complementing the online learning, with field activities in tropical habitats combined with computer work on-site.

GIS has grown increasingly important in environmental management and conservation, as well as urban and regional planning, biology, geography, environmental studies, civil engineering, wildlife ecology, zoology, agronomy, botany, forestry, landscape architecture, and soil science, just to name a few major areas where this course would give you marketable career skills.

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation is a non-profit organization offering field courses taught by highly experienced and knowledgeable staff. Their field courses provide quality education while taking you to some of the most remote and pristine ecosystems left on earth.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • 2.75 cumulative GPA
  • Some Spanish language skills preferred but not required.

  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree seeking students and all degree-seeking undergraduate students at a US college or university. Preference is given to UW-Madison students
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

Provider

Subjects

Geography; GIS

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Field Research Station

Program Duration

Summer: Mid-July - Early August

2019 Dates: July 15 - August 11

  • July 15-26 (Online)
  • July 29-August 11 (Ecuador)

Application Deadline(s)

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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For this four-week program, you will receive four credits for Geography 475: Topics in Geography.

This program follows a hybrid model, with two weeks of interactive, online learning prior to departure, followed by a two-week field component in Ecuador.

Online content will focus on learning basic and advanced GIS and GPS techniques, analysis, and applications to conservation. The online content will involve several hours per day of recorded lecture videos, homework assignments to be implemented in QGIS, practical assignments to find and access public data, discussions of homework outcomes, and other interactive features.

The program then will travel to Ecuador where you will practice GPS skills in the Andes before traveling to Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve, an ongoing conservation project of the Ceiba Foundation. You will participate in face-to-face lectures, lab activities, and discussions; the majority of class time, however, will be spent in the field, either in the reserve forest or the surrounding countryside. You will practice GIS and GPS techniques, participate in field training activities, assist Ceiba’s active research programs, and design and implement a small-group final project focusing on a pressing conservation GIS need.

The Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve protects 200 hectares (approximately 450 acres) of tropical deciduous forest. It is located south of the town of Pedernales in the Pacific coastal province of Manabi, Ecuador. You will be housed in a dormitory at the Reserve, surrounded by lush forest teeming with monkeys. Rooms have two bunks with four people to a room. Three meals a day will be provided in the communal dining area. Bathroom (composting toilets) and shower (cold-water) facilities are adjacent to the dormitory building. You will have limited internet access. Public transportation links the reserve to urban centers 25 minutes away. The dormitory building has no electricity; light in the evenings is typically by flashlight and candles. Electricity is available at the nature center where you can charge cameras, laptops and other electronic equipment. 

Affiliate Institution(s)

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve

Program Web Pages

Ceiba Conservation GIS in the Tropics

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents