McGill University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

The focus of the Barbados Field Study Semester (BFSS) is the study of Sustainability in the Caribbean. McGill University has become a prominent hub for sustainability, both through the McGill Office of Sustainability and the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations are an important statement of an international consensus on development priorities to address the most pressing global challenges of our time and create a more sustainable future. The BFSS curriculum focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals identified as a priority by the government of Barbados and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Students registered in the BFSS learn about the science of sustainability and how it integrates the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic –, and apply this knowledge to a real-life question by conducting an applied, field-based, research project. The program runs over 13 weeks in total and is capped at 20 students.

The Panama Field Study program is a joint venture between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama. It is a 15-credit program offered in the Winter term (January to April) that specifically addresses issues relevant to the understanding of the Latin America tropical environment. Hands-on experience in an internship setting is gained through the Research in Panama course ENVR 451 (6 credits). It consists of an independent studies project organized around multidisciplinary environmental issues. The nature of the project centers on practical environmental problems and questions important for Panama; students form teams that work with Panamanian institutions (NGO, governmental or research). Enrolment of McGill students is limited to 22 students.

The Africa Field Study Semester (AFSS) is a one-semester, 15-credit, program that introduces students to East Africa specifically with a view to increasing their understanding of the goals, circumstances, challenges and opportunities of people living in the areas visited. Students are provided the opportunity to meet people working in community development, wildlife management, environmental conservation; to be part of active research institutions in East Africa; and to conduct research projects in natural science, social science, and interdisciplinary areas. Enrolment is limited to 38 students.