SFS offers more than 20 semester and summer programs around the world. Programs are based out of SFS-operated permanent field stations which are located in areas of opportunity for academic study and
community engagement. These field stations, known as Centers, are home to faculty, staff, and students; and anchor the strategic long-term research upon which the SFS mission is based. Each SFS Center has a particular academic focus and set of research themes to reflect the surrounding
ecosystems and environmental issues. Semester program coursework generally covers
ecology,
environmental policy,
natural resource management, and
socioeconomics, while summer programs focus on more specific topics. The SFS website offers a full list of current programs.
Australia The SFS Center for Rainforest Studies is located in
Queensland, Australia, near the town of
Yungaburra. Programs include the "Rainforest to Reef" semester program, and the "Rainforests of New Zealand and Australia" and "Watersheds of the Wet Tropics" summer programs. Research and coursework explore themes related to
rainforest conservation and management, including downstream effects on the
Great Barrier Reef.
Bhutan The SFS Center for Himalayan Environment and Development Studies is located in the town of
Paro, in western
Bhutan. Programs include the "Himalayan Environment and Society in Transition" semester program, and the "Forests in the Land of the Thunder Dragon" summer program. Research and coursework explore themes related to
mountain ecology, rural
livelihoods, forest management, and the roles of
religion and
culture in environmental policy-making.
Cambodia The SFS Center for Conservation and Development Studies is located in the city of
Siem Reap,
Cambodia. Programs include the "Conservation, Ethics, and Environmental Change" semester program, and the "Elephants of the Cambodian Highlands" summer program. Research and coursework explore themes related to elephant ecology at
Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary and
Elephant Valley Project (EVP) in Mondulkiri province, and
Kulen Elephant Forest (KEF) in
Siem Reap province, the impacts of
climate change along the
Mekong River, and the role of community governance in protecting
natural resources.
Chile The SFS Center for Climate Studies is located in the city of
Puerto Natales, in
Chilean
Patagonia. Programs include the "Wild Patagonia: Fire and Ice" semester program. Research and coursework explore themes related to climate change,
coastal and alpine ecology,
glacial dynamics, and
conservation.
Costa Rica The SFS Center for Sustainable Development Studies is located in the town of
Atenas, in
Costa Rica's Central Valley. Programs include the "Sustainable Development Studies" semester program, and the "Coffee and Chocolate: A Taste of Sustainability" and "Fundamentals of Sustainability Research" summer programs. Research and coursework explore themes related to
sustainable development,
agriculture and
permaculture,
ecotourism, and
biodiversity.
Kenya The SFS Center for Water and Wildlife Studies is located in the town of
Kimana, in
Kenya's Rift Valley. Programs include the "Water, Wildlife, and Community" semester program, and the "Primates of the African Savanna" summer program. Research and coursework explore themes related to wildlife ecology, water quality and use, climate change, and
national parks management.
Panama The SFS Center for Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies is located in the town of
Bocas del Toro,
Panama. Programs include the "Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies" semester program, and the "Tourism and Tropical Island Ecosystems" summer program. Research and coursework explore themes related to
tropical marine and
terrestrial ecosystems, the impacts of tourism, and community livelihoods.
Peru The SFS Center for Amazon Studies is located in Tarapoto, a city in the higher Amazon of Peru. Programs include the "Living Amazon" semester program. Research and coursework explore themes related to
rainforest ecology, biodiversity, and environmental justice, and Indigenous rights. Research and coursework explore topics related to the impact of tourism and conservation areas on Indigenous communities, tropical ecology and ecosystems.
Tanzania The SFS Center for Wildlife Management Studies is located in
Rhotia,
Tanzania, near
Lake Manyara National Park and the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Programs include the "Wildlife Management Studies" semester program, and the "Fundamentals of Wildlife Management" and "Carnivores of the African Plains" summer programs. Research and coursework explore themes related to
wildlife management and ecology,
human-wildlife conflicts, national parks management, and climate change.
Turks and Caicos Islands The SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies is located on the island of
South Caicos, in the
Turks and Caicos archipelago. Programs include the "Marine Resource Studies" semester program, and the "Fundamentals of Marine Conservation" and "Marine Megafauna" summer programs. Research and coursework explore themes related to marine ecosystems, climate change and
ocean acidification,
fisheries, and
marine protected areas. == See also ==