Ecology & Sustainability: Experiences with Mexico's Biocultural Diversity
In July 2016, CLAS, in partnership with the Graduate School of Education's Center to Support Excellence in Teaching (CSET), offered a professional development institute for secondary and community college STEM and social science educators. During this 10-day summer course, teachers went into the field in Mexico with Rodolfo Dirzo, Bing Professor in Environmental Science in the Department of Biology. Teachers participated in ecology, sustainability, and conservation science research (learning by doing) at Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biology Station; attended lectures and visits on resource management and sustainability at the Instituto de Ecología in Xalapa; and visited an indigenous community to learn about conservation efforts of tropical rainforest ecosystems via rural ecotourism. Upon returning from Mexico, teachers worked with science educators from the Graduate School of Education's Center to Support Excellence in Teaching (CSET) to develop unit plans, lessons, or units for use in their classrooms.
Future Institutes Abroad
To receive information on future institutes abroad, join our mailing list for educators.
For a list of summer institutes offered by fellow CLASP member institutions, visit CLASP Professional Development.
