Please pass this along to prospective conservation/wildlife/natural resource students.
================================== DO YOU WANT TO GO TO AFRICA? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AFRICAN WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION? Don't miss an opportunity to participate this AMAZING Study Abroad program to South Africa - May 12 - June 7, 2012!! Non-Michigan State University students are welcome and encouraged to participate. 2012 will be our 7th consecutive trip to South Africa, and to date we've had students from Univ. of Tennessee, Univ. of Idaho, Univ. of Vermont, Paul Smith's College, Central Michigan Univ., Butler Univ., Univ. of Findlay and Humboldt State University participate. Non-MSU students enroll under Lifelong Education. Tuition rates are a bit more than in-state tuition, but significantly less than out-of-state tuition! If you'd like more information, please email me and I'll send you PDFs of the program brochure and informational powerpoint, as well as answer any questions you might have. Also be sure to see the information below and program website (https://osa.isp.msu.edu/Programs/program/index/104427). The application deadline for the 2012 summer study abroad programs is March 1, but applicants are admitted on a rolling admission basis and we hope to be full by January. So, don't wait to apply. JOIN US IN SOUTH AFRICA!!! Jim Schneider [email protected] 517-353-2979 ======================================== Conservation and Biodiversity in South African Parks and Nature Reserves https://osa.isp.msu.edu/Programs/program/index/104427 Summer 2010 - May 12 - June 7, 2012 Program Description Southern Africa is home to some amazing biodiversity, including: 24,000 flowering plants, 1,500 trees, 900 birds, 324 lizards, 300 mammals, 156 snakes, and 130 frogs. How many can and will you find? At a time when natural resource managers are asked to consider global contexts of biodiversity and ecosystem approaches to management, this course will expose students to various South African ecosystems and will broaden students' scope of management by taking into account the impacts that land-based activities and international policies have on the natural communities in these ecosystems. This program, offered by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will examine various parks and nature reserves throughout South Africa, including Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg National Park, Kalahari Transfrontier Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, and Table Mountain National Park. The role of nature reserves and national parks as management tools will be investigated; as well as a comparing natural area management systems between South Africa and the United States. Students will be expected to see and record as many South African species as possible, compare species presents and absence between the different regions visited, discuss why species do or do not exists across all locations, and what role management has in species presence or absence. Students will also interact with government officials and land managers; and participate in hands-on learning, including bushwalks, habitat sampling, population surveys and other field experiments. Academic Overview Students will be required to enroll for six (6) credits in the following course: FW 480 International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife 6 cr. Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions <http://www.reg.msu.edu/Courses/Search.asp> (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details. Additional Requirements This program is primarily intended for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in biological sciences, environmental biology, natural resource management, wildlife ecology, zoology, or a related field, but students from all academic majors, as well as students from other universities, that are interested in wildlife conservation are encouraged to apply. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.0 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. Preference will be given to students with a biological, environmental, natural resource or fisheries and wildlife-related background. Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program. It should be noted that not all activities involved in this program are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Applicants' participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation. Housing Overview Accommodations will include tourist-class motel or hostel facilities in Witbank, Kuruman, Struisbaii and Cape Town; and cabin-style facilities while at the South African Wildlife College and in Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Kalahari Transfrontier Park, and Upington. Most meals are included. Program Leader Biography Mr. Jim Schneider is the Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Undergraduate Academic Adviser for the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Jim has co-lead 8 programs to Africa: 3 to Kenya and 5 to South Africa. Before coming to MSU, Jim earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Idaho, and has worked at the University of Maine and Pennsylavania State University. He's studied peregrine falcons in Greenland, black bears and prairie chickens in Wisconsin, sage grouse in Colorado, sharp-tailed grouse in Idaho, and white-tailed deer in Maine. Jim is a Certified Wildlife Biologist. Jim finds it extremely rewarding to introduce new students to the wonders of wild Africa, and is very much looking forward to the 2012 program. Dr. Eugene Moll, has co-lead this program to South Africa since 2009. Dr. Moll is originally for Zimbabwe, but has dual citizenship in South Africa and Australia and presently lives near Cape Town. Dr. Moll is a botantist by training, but is also an amazing all around naturalist. He has been a lecturer on various conservation related topics at The University of Cape Town, University of Western Cape, and the University of Queensland in Australia. Dr. Moll also served as Director of the South African Wildlife College for 3 years. Dr. Moll is in the final stages of publishing "What's that Tree?", a book on trees of South Africa. Dr. Moll's passion for conservation and biodiversity, as well as his interest in educating and working with students is a true asset to this program. How much does it cost? The program fee for 2012 is $3,995 and includes the following: * application fee ($100) * deposit ($200) * pre-departure orientation * accommodations * most meals * local transportation * accident and sickness insurance * field trips Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include: * MSU tuition and fees* * airfare * beverages * books and supplies * laundry * passport application fee * visa application fees (if applicable) * pre-departure doctor visits * pre-departure immunizations (if applicable) * personal spending money Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $3,005. Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920. ******************************************* JIM SCHNEIDER - Undergraduate Program Coordinator Senior Specialist - Adviser & Certified Wildlife Biologist R Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 40 Natural Resources Building East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 Office: 517-353-9091 Fax: 517-432-1699 E-Mail: [email protected] FW Web Site: http://www.fw.msu.edu/ *******************************************
