| In Mongolia: | mid-June 2009 (dates finalized soon) |
| At Home or School: | September - early December 2009 (Web-based Learning Community) |
| Credits: | 7 graduate credits from Miami University; $3,000 in-state & $7,000 out-of-state tuition waived; course can be applied to Global Field Program. |
| Course Cost: | $1150 + airfare |
| "Travel with Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo to Mongolia, the "Land of Blue Sky." The birthplace of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in human history, Mongolia is now a vibrant democracy and home to an open wilderness that has few parallels in the modern world. We will explore the great steppes, and especially engage in the conservation story of two key steppe species: Pallas' cats and Przewalski's horse. Pallas' cats are important steppe predators whose conservation provides insights into the challenges facing the survival of small wild cats worldwide. Przewalski's horse, also called takhi, are considered to be the only true wild horse left in the world. We will join research on an ambitious reintroduction project based in Mongolia that has returned this remarkable species to its former homeland after being driven to extinction in the wild. Possible research projects include studies of the populations, home range, and conservation of Pallas' cats and Przewalski's horse; participatory media and conservation knowledge; and community-based research. Discover the power of inquiry to generate knoweldge and inspire conservation. Prior to and following the field experience in Mongolia, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops Web-based learning community as they apply experiences to their home institutions |
Course Themes
- Introduction to the ecology of Asian steppe ecosystems
- Pallas' cat ecology and conservation
- Reintroduction of Prezwalski's horse (takhi)
- Field method techniques
- Inquiry-driven learning
- Participatory education and media
- Community-based conservation
A typical Field Expeditions day in Mongolia is likely to include:
- Visits to field conservation sites
- Lectures
- Student-led discussions of key course topics
- Engagement with local communities
- Open inquiries
- Journal writing
[Click on an image to open it in a new window]
Mongolia, "Land of Blue Sky"
Central Mongolia is a vast, wild landscape of rolling green steppe and stony mountains, far reaching valleys, sturdy horses, short grass aromatic with sage, and hospitable nomads living in traditional round gers.
The Mongolian steppe is part of the Eurasian steppes, a vast belt of grassland extending from eastern Europe through western and central Asia to northeast Asia. A temperate biome, steppes are found in the central regions of continents, far from the sea.
Mongolia is an invigorating place to visit and, with the world's lowest population density and enormous swathes of virgin landscape, one of the best wilderness destinations in Asia.
Possible Sites in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar
The capitol of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar is located in the Tuul river valley in central Mongolia.
Altanbulag
Altanbulag, located south of Ulaanbaatar, is the primary research site for the Pallas' Cat Conservation Project. The Pallas' cat, Otocolobus manul, is a predator specialized to live in the steppe and mountainous regions of central Asia. Its greatest populations are found in Mongolia. A thick coat of shaggy fur and a long, bushy tail help combat the extreme temperatures of the steppe. The elusive Pallas' cat is difficult to observe in the wild due to its excellent camouflage, its surprisingly large home ranges, and its scarcity. An ongoing study in Mongolia, supported by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG), is using radio telemetry to measure range sizes of wild Pallas' cats.
Research at the CZBG's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife and the National Zoological Park established that Pallas' cats have a pronounced reproductive seasonality controlled by light exposure and that newborns are extremely susceptible to infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma. Improved reproductive and disease management based on these findings has enabled the captive population to grow and stabilize.
The Pallas Cat Conservation Project (PCCP) research site is a remote location with only basic amenities; students will get a real taste of the life of a field researcher. During the few days the course will be staying at the PCCP site, students will probably sleep in sleeping bags (bring your own) on the floor in gers, the traditional circular homes of Mongolian nomads. Clean water for basic needs, such as drinking and washing hands and face, will be available on site; it is possible that camp showers consisting of an insulated bag designed to warm water by solar energy will be available. Toilets will be of the outhouse variety. Note: other sites in Mongolia and other Field Expedition locations -- will not be as "bare bones".
Hustai National Park
Hustai National Park, located approximately 100 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar, was chosen as an optimal location for the reintroduction of Przewalski's horse (takhi). Between 1992 and 2000, a total of 84 takhi from zoos around the world were released in Hustai. The wild horses have flourished; now more than 190 freely roam the park along with red deer, wild boar, white-tailed gazelles, wolves, lynx, marmots, and long-tailed hamsters. The park is also home to 172 species of birds such as the steppe eagle, great bustard, demoiselle crane, and cinereous vulture.
(Course locations are subject to change.)
Dragonfly Workshops Web-based Learning Community
Upon acceptance into the program and before departing for Mongolia, students will join instructors and classmates in Dragonfly Workshops' collaborative Web community to complete pre-trip assignments. After returning to the United States, students will continue to work in their Web-based community from September through early December to develop projects initiated in the field, discuss assignments, and exchange ideas. All students should expect to spend two to three hours a week contributing to their Web-based learning community from their home or school computer. Navigating the Web platform is easy--it's designed for people with no prior computer experience. To learn more about this unique Web experience, visit dragonflyworkshops.org.
Cost: $1150 + Airfare
All basic expenses in-country are covered in the course costs, including:
- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
Airfare: Estimated fares to Mongolia from the United States range from $1500 to $2000, with some tickets costing more. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares. Applicants may wish to call a travel agent or visit an online fare finder like Travelocity or Air Bridge USA, who specializes in airline travel to Mongolia.
Financial Support
Because of support from Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs. Click here for more Grant Funding Tips.
Tuition costs:
Non-Miami University Participants
To support involvement by a broad range of educators from across the nation, Miami University is currently waiving all tuition for Earth Expedition participants who hold bachelor's degrees and who are not full-time students at Miami University. Upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the Earth Expeditions course, participants will receive seven graduate credit hours. (Approximately $2,500 for in-state and $6,200 for out-of-state tuition is waived).
Miami University Students
Full-time Miami University undergraduate and graduate students pay tuition for five credit hours unless they have summer tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship or scholarship. Miami students receive seven credit hours upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the course.
More Information
For more information on the admissions process, physical requirements, and more, please visit Admissions and/or FAQs.
From our Students
This video was created by a 2007 Earth Expeditions Mongolia student -- enjoy!
Copied from: http://www.earthexpeditions.org/field_expeditions/mongolia/index.php
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