ICTE
N-543 SBS Bldg.
SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY
11794-4364
631.632.9440
Fax: 631.632.7692
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Study Abroad
Application Deadline: March 30 2008.
STONY BROOK IN MADAGASCAR
Since 1995, Stony Brook's Semester in Madagascar has provided
students with the opportunity to study the biodiversity and culture
of this exotic tropical island. Students spend part of the semester
living and studying in the rainforest at Ranomafana
National Park, sharing the research and training center (Centre
ValBio) with scientists and staff conducting cutting edge
biodiversity research. Shorter stays in other parts of the country
will introduce students to the wide variety of cultures, environments,
and biodiversity that is Madagascar.
The Stony Brook Semester in Madagascar provides an unparalleled
experience for students wishing to explore parts of the world
virtually unknown to most North Americans. Courses are taught
in English by Ph.D. research scientists from the US and Europe,
and will prepare students for the final part of the course - an
independent research project, designed and executed by each student.
Field-based courses prepare students to tackle the tough questions
posed by the complexity of tropical ecosystems. Hands-on fieldwork
teaches the methods of tropical field biology. Students who complete
this program should be well prepared for advanced studies in tropical
biology.
The Stony Brook Semester in Madagascar is organized through SUNY-Stony
Brook's Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE),
whose mission is research, training, and conservation in tropical
ecosystems, with a special focus on Madagascar.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- First-hand experience with tropical conservation
issues
- Living and learning near the rainforest close
to endangered and endemic species: lemurs, chameleons, tropical
birds…
- Field-based laboratory courses taught in the
rainforest
- Sharing Centre
ValBio facilities with scientists actively involved in research
- Designing, conducting, and presenting an independent
research project
- Access to small villages around Ranomafana
National Park for cultural experiences and research
- Live closely with Malagasy people and develop
friendships that last beyond the program
- All on-site housing, meals, and transportation
arranged
- Excursions to other parts of Madagascar, including
the capital city Antananarivo, the dry spiny forest, beaches
and coral reefs, and Isalo National Park (the 'Grand Canyon'
of Madagascar)
- Instructions and guidance in English by experienced
American and European faculty
- Resident Coordinator remains with group throughout
the entire program to provide academic and personal assistance.
- Fully accredited by the State University of
New York, with credit equivalency accepted by most U.S. colleges
and universities.
- No language requirement, but some knowledge
of French (or Malagasy!) is helpful
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Eligibility
Students from an  accredited
U.S. College or university may apply for the Stony Brook Study
Abroad Semester in Madagascar. The program is open to seniors
and juniors who have taken coursework in biology or anthropology
and are in good/excellent academic standing. Students should consider
their health and physical condition since many of the footpaths
in Ranomafana National Park are steep and sometimes muddy.
Program Director
Professor Patricia C. Wright
has worked in Madagascar since 1986 when her discovery of a new
species of lemur, the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus),
led to the establishment of Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar.
Dr. Wright has worked to protect and conserve the flora and fauna
of the park as well as to promote rural development, education,
and health services for villagers living around the park. Dr.
Wright is the International Director of the Centre
ValBio (research and training station) in Madagascar and Executive
Director for the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments
(ICTE) at Stony Brook University. As the program director, Dr.
Wright has the right and responsibility to ensure that students
abide by the program's rules and regulations. She also teaches
classes and assists students academically whenever possible. The
Resident Coordinator also teaches students and assists them academically
and personally.
Program Description
Dates: The program runs from early September
to late November (depending on flight availability). Application
deadline is March 30, 2008.
After a brief orientation in Stony Brook and the capital city
of Antananarivo, students will live and work in the national parks
of Madagascar. The majority of their time will be spent living
and working at Centre ValBio ,
along with scientists and staff actively conducting research.
Centre ValBio is adjacent to the 125,000 acre National Park. Students
will be sleeping in tents, and eating, working, and taking courses
at Centre ValBio. Courses will
be a combination of lectures at Centre ValBio, and hands-on field
work in the rainforest.
Field conditions in Ranomafana National Park can be rigorous.
Rain is frequent, and the steep trails can be muddy and slippery.
But don't let this discourage you. You will forget your tired
legs and muddy boots as soon as you see lemurs up close, or your
first chameleon! Students in the past have found that they quickly
develop the strength and stamina to enjoy working in the forest.
After taking optional excursions to other parts of Madagascar
to study the diversity of cultures and natural history of the
island, students will return to Ranomafana National Park to conduct
their independent research projects. By this time, students will
have completed coursework that includes information on project
design and execution. Students, in consultation with program staff,
will choose and design a short-term project in their area of interest.
They will have several weeks to conduct the research and analyze
their data under the supervision of project staff. Students will
be required to write a scientific paper about their research and
will present the results of their independent project.
See Sample Syllabus
Examples of Past Independent Research Projects:
- Seed dispersal by lemurs and birds in the rainforest
of Madagascar
- Differences in the ontogeny of infant development
in Propithecus edwardsi (lemur): contrasts in sons vs.
daughters
- The effects of tourists on the behavior of
wild lemurs
- Contrasting prey items brought to the nest
of Buteo madagascariensis (Malagasy buzzard) and Accipiter henstii
(Henst's goshawk)
- Regeneration differences in disturbed vs. pristine
forest
- Differences in utilization of traditional and
modern medicine between generations in Ranomafana, Madagascar
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Living Arrangements
Students will spend about three-quarters of the program living in tents
adjacent to Centre ValBio.  Students
pitch their tents in our campsite, which overlooks the National
Park. As the nights can be cool, we recommend that students bring
a sleeping pad or air mattress to place under their sleeping bags.
Tent sites have a sand base and canals on four sides for drainage.
Students should bring, tarpaulins and groundcloths to keep away the
rain and sun. Tent sites are tucked in among the trees in a picturesque
area near the river. Flush toilets and hot showers are nearby.
Three meals a day are provided by a local chef with training in
French Cuisine.
When students are on excursions to other parts of Madagascar
they will live in hotel rooms and eat at local restaurants or
camp and cook their own food. Students will live and travel as
a group. All housing, meals, and travel are arranged.
Travel Arrangements and Schedule
The Stony Brook University Institute for the Conservation of Tropical
Environments (ICTE) maintains an office and staff in Madagascar.
The ICTE office in Antananarivo, using project vehicles and certified,
experienced, and trusted drivers will arrange all transportation
in Madagascar. A car and driver will be available at all times
during the program.
Students meet in Stony Brook, New York, for a 2-day orientation
before taking a group flight (arranged by the Study Abroad office,
not included in the program fee) to Antananarivo, the capital
of Madagascar. The Resident Coordinator and ICTE staff members
will meet the group at the airport in Antananarivo and take them
to the hotel. After several group excursions to cultural and natural
history sites around Antananarivo, the group will be driven to
Ranomafana National Park, an 8 - 10 hour drive sometimes over
rough roads. After several weeks of coursework in Ranomafana,
the group will take excursions to other parts of Madagascar including
dry forest, coral reefs, and beaches, to study diverse ecosystems.
The group will then return to Ranomafana National Park to conduct
their independent projects. The student will return to Antananarivo
at the end of the program, and will be taken to the airport for
their flight home.
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Academic Information
Dates
The program runs approximately from early September to late November
(depending on flight availability). Application deadline is
March 30, 2008.
Faculty
All courses are taught by the Program Director and the Resident
Coordinator aided by graduate teaching assistants from the US
and from Madagascar. Guest lectures by staff and researchers at
Centre ValBio will supplement
the courses.
Books
A list of texts required for each course will be sent to participants
before leaving for Madagascar. These books should be purchased
in the US and taken to Madagascar.
Courses Offered
- Biodiversity Science Field Methods: Biodiversity of
Madagascar and field methods in the study of lemurs, reptiles,
mammals, birds, insects, and plants. Skills taught include mist-netting,
radio tracking, pit-fall trapping, point-count census, limnological
sampling, systematics, and behavioral observation methodology.
The course includes information on how to write and research
paper and individualized instruction in project design and data
analysis. Lectures are given in the morning and field labs in
the afternoon. (3 credits)
- Primate Behavior and Ecology: An overview of the taxonomy
of Malagasy primates, and the ecology and behavior of lemurs,
field capture methods, and behavioral observation methods. Students
have direct experience studying habituated groups of lemurs:
sifakas (Propithecus edwardsi) and bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur
species) (3 credits)
- Madagascar Ecosystems: Students compare and contrast
rainforests with other ecosystems during excursions to spiny
desert, coral reef, and dry gallery forest. Students discuss
and evaluate varying threats to and management needs of Malagasy
ecosystems. (3 credits).
- Independent Research: Students will choose, design,
execute, and present the results of an independent research
project. Instruction in this course will be individualized for
each student. Students will be closely supervised and assisted
in all parts of their independent research by Study Abroad staff.
Students will be required to write a research paper on their
project. (6 credits)
Academic Standards
These courses are regular college courses. Students are expected
to attend classes and meet the requirements set by the professors.
Failure to do so could result in expulsion from the program without
reimbursement. Students must pass final examinations and submit
a research report for their independent research project if they
wish to receive credit for the courses. Failing grades will be
recorded on the Stony Brook transcript.
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Expenses and Program Costs
The following provides an estimated overview of the costs involved
for the program which are subject to change. Participants will
receive more detailed and exact information with the application
materials. We project that a minimum of 10 students will participate
in this program.
Program Fee:
$4800.00+ - includes all Room and Board, as well as park fees.
Tuition and College Fee:
All participants pay SUNY tuition and the college fee at the in-state
or out-of-state rate (whichever is applicable) for the semester
they are abroad in this program. SUNY students pay their home
campus; non-SUNY students pay Stony Brook. Currently (as of February 2008) the New York
State Resident fee is $2175 per semester; the Non-New York State
Resident fee is $5305 per semester.
.jpg) Insurance
Premium:
Approximately $50 per month, including evacuation and repatriation
coverage.
Airfare:
Since air travel to Madagascar is expensive, a group flight
is organized by the Study Abroad Office to make travel economical
for students. Participants should expect to pay between $1500
and $2500 for the round-trip flight.
Administrative Fee:
$200, paid to Study Abroad
Financial Aid:
Student eligibility for financial aid is not adversely affected
by participation in the program, and most forms of financial aid
may be applied to program fees. You should note that the college
or university where you are enrolled for a degree must process
financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid at that institution
should determine your aid award based on actual program costs.
A student interested in receiving financial aid for a Stony Brook
overseas program should therefore obtain a comprehensive list
of program costs from the Stony Brook Study Abroad Office. The
student needs to take this list to an appointment with a financial
aid counselor. In most cases, the financial aid office of a non-SUNY
institution will need to prepare a Consortium Agreement with the
Stony Brook Financial Aid Office.
Withdrawals and Refunds:
Students must realize that Stony Brook incurs certain financial
and contractual obligations overseas once a student accepts a
place in a Study Abroad program. For this reason, students should
not consider that a refund is automatic, but should confer with
the Stony Brook Study Abroad Office regarding the refund policy
for their specific program.
Passport and Visas:
Application for passports should be made well in advance of departure.
It takes from two weeks to a month to obtain a passport. The location
of the nearest Passport Bureau can be obtained from any Post Office.
Visas can be obtained from the Madagascar
Consulate nearest you.
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Application for Admission
A college transcript, three references, and a personal statement
must support the application for admission. Applications and information
may be obtained from the Study Abroad Office. Applications may
be submitted at any time but no later than March 30. Late applications
will be considered on a space-available basis only. Normally students
will be notified regarding admission by mid-May.
For applications for the Stony Brook in Madagascar Program, please
see the Study Abroad
Office web site. For additional information, please
contact:
Study Abroad Office
E-5340 Melville Library
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3397
Telephone: (631) 632-7030
Fax: (631) 632-6544
E-mail: studyabroad@sunysb.edu
http://www.sunysb.edu/studyabroad
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