The Field School in Tropical Ecology (ECOTROP) is pleased to announce a National Science Foundation supported eight-week summer field course in tropical ecology and conservation. This field course will be held in Gabon, Central Africa and will focus on examining the effects of past human settlements on forest ecology and biodiversity. This field research opportunity is open to U.S. students at both the undergraduate and graduate level and will provide hands on mentorship in a variety of disciplines: archaeology, ethnobotany, ecology, environmental anthropology, geosciences and wildlife biology. On-line preparatory courses and language training will be held in May and June (2025) and field work will be conducted in Gabon for the month of July (2025). Application deadline: March 14th, 2025. Applications can be submitted at the following website: https://www.uno.edu/studyabroad/gabon Requirements: - Must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States - Must currently be registered as an undergraduate or graduate student, with a minimum GPA of 2.5 - One semester of sophomore level ecology, evolutionary biology or relevant discipline (e.g. geosciences, anthropology or environmental science) - Preferably one semester of college-level French - Hold or are willing to apply for a valid passport - Enjoy working in a multi-cultural setting and learning new skills - Able to camp and work under physically strenuous conditions This course is optionally available for six credits for undergraduates (applicable course fees apply). 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 New Orleans, The University of Michigan, the Universit? des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, the University of Omar Bongo, the Gabonese National Park Service, the University of Lausanne, as well as 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. This overseas research training opportunity is funded through the National Science Foundation's International Research Experiences for Students (OISE 2420103) and is coordinated in the US by PI Nicola Anthony (University of New Orleans) and co-PI Johannes Foufopoulos (University of Michigan). Costs for all travel and in-country expenses will be provided by the program as well as an eight-week student stipend for summer 2025. Sincerely, Nicola Anthony Professor Freeport-McMoRan Chair in Wildlife Sustainability Department of Biological Sciences University of New Orleans New Orleans LA 70148 Email: (nanthony@uno.edu) Johannes Foufopoulos Associate Professor School for Environment & Sustainability Dana Building University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI 48109 Email: jfoufop@umich.edu nanthony@uno.edu (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)