Jessica Rothman describes Uganda research training and cultural immersion
Rothman explains that students observe wild monkeys and apes, record behavior data, identify trees, use GPS, and learn from Ugandan wildlife practitioners. She says students eat meals with faculty and Ugandan experts, participate in a naming ceremony, and receive orientations on culture, wildlife safety, and expectations.
To date, 89 CUNY students, including 57 undergraduates, have participated.
And I'm not alone.
My CUNY faculty colleagues lead study abroad programs and include students in their international research.
Students learn to conduct animal behavior research by observing wild monkeys and apes like chimpanzees, gorillas.
They record, analyze data, identify individual animals, and document whether they're feeding, resting, traveling.
They learn to identify trees and measure their growth and use GPS units to navigate through the dense rainforest.
They work in teams with me, other students, and Ugandan colleagues engaging directly with the scientific method.
They learn about the challenges of wildlife management from field lectures by Ugandan practitioners.
For example, students visit a savannah national park filled with elephants, buffalo, and lions, and learn about poaching threats as well as human-wildlife conflict.
Our long-term collaborations with Ugandan experts and communities are an essential part of these programs.
The students eat many of their meals with me and the Ugandan experts they learn from, and this is often the first time they've interacted on this level with faculty and scientists.
They don't use...
usually have these opportunities at commuter colleges.
Just before their departure, the students participate in a cultural ceremony where a village elder gives them a local Ugandan name.
Students develop profound connections with one another and the Ugandans they've met.
The impact of international experiences on CUNY undergraduate students is immense.
Students learn about opportunities in several ways beyond campus advertisements.
So I talk to students who ask me questions in classes or do well on exams.
Alumni visit classrooms to speak about their experiences.
Students could not imagine that they could be following wild monkeys and apes as part of their degree program.
And when they hear other students speak about their experiences and see their photos, they're very excited.
No prior experience is necessary, but we conduct interviews to make sure that the student is comfortable being away from their family, is prepared to walk in a forest all day, and is willing to have limited phone and internet time.
To prepare, the students are required to attend a three-hour orientation with me in which I cover cultural norms, training on how to behave around wildlife, and the expectations and responsibilities while abroad.