We are on the look-out for dynamic and motivated people who will benefit from a four-month immersion in the unique cultures and environments of Panama.
The PFSS has been running for well over twenty years. It collaborates closely with the renowned Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamanian universities, NGOs and Indigenous organizations to provide an unmatched applied learning experience for McGill students.
The program takes place from usually takes place from January to April, but will exceptionally be held from May to August in 2023. Another departure is planned for January 2024. Students take 15 credits worth of courses in the form of field classes and modules taught by McGill faculty and a 6-credit research internship. This year we will be offering classes in tropical biology, sustainable agriculture, geography and urban studies. All our classes are delivered in the field. We emphasize an engagement with the real-world complexities surrounding key social and environmental issues facing Neotropics today - expect to be challenged!
Students from all Faculties are welcomed. The only prerequisite is a working fluency in Spanish and a statistics class (MATH 203 or equivalent).
If you'd like to find out more, please consult our website or contact us at ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca
Finally, a note on the COVID pandemic. We are monitoring the situation in Panama very closely and working with Panamanian physicians and the Smithsonian Institute to assure the PFSS can be held in 2023 while ensuring the health of participating students and faculty as well as that of our hosts in communities and in various field stations. We are confident that PFSS will be able to take place but obviously, this is a highly dynamic situation so a final decision to go/not go will be taken before departure if necessary.
