We focus on research, not classroom lectures.  We review research design and implementation, from reasoning and causality to ethics, survey design, implementation, and analyses.  We do all of this within the context of the complex social, political, biological, and environmental determinants and constraints of the Galápagos islands. 

Students typically attend the field school and then stay involved in the research, leading to their own professional presentations.  We are currently working on the research publications.

We also travel like a family, sharing excursions and meals.  And critically, we give our time to the community from whom we are learning.  

We typically travel early July through early August (summer session II at Baylor).  You do not need to be any particular major, speak Spanish, have specific experience, or have traveled internationally before.  The course will be for six (6) upper level credits.  The cost is the average of all study abroad summer experiences at Baylor.  We can accommodate most needs.  The food is amazing, the areas are safe, and we stay in nice hotels (two people to a room ensuite).

We first visit Quito where we have orientation on the main USFQ campus, including some Spanish instruction, discussions with a few USFQ professors of medicine, ecology, and others, visits to the local hospitals (medical and veterinary), and excursions to the equator and historic city center.  We are there for only a few days.  The majority of the month we spend on three Galápagos islands: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabella.

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On San Cristobal, we:

• Begin our surveys of tourists and residents.

• Snorkel with sea lions in the bay where Darwin landed in the Beagle. 

• Learn about the history of the islands at the interpretation center.

• Have multiple beach days for relaxing. 

• Visit local healthcare centers.

• Snorkel around Kicker Rock, an amazing formation surrounded by megafauna like hammerhead sharks.

• Visit the highlands and a major giant tortoise sanctuary.

• Get up close to blue footed boobies, frigate birds, sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, sharks, sea turtles, and more.

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On Santa Cruz, we:

• Continue our survey work.

• Tour the Charles Darwin Research Center.

• Visit two family farms known for their coffee and chocolate.

• Spend more relaxing beach days and see how most residents on the islands live and work.

• Visit the highlands and see the largest giant tortoises in the world.

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On Isabella, we:

• Snorkel through lava tunnels with massive green sea turtles, surrounded by penguins, flamingos, manta rays, and huge seahorses. 

• Hike the largest active volcanoes in the archipelago. 

• Learn about the complex human history of the islands.

Our primary activity will be collecting more than 1500 iPad-based surveys from the tourists and residents.  Besides participating in the research, students will having daily blog posts and journal entries.