Study Abroad

Conservation Medicine-Conservation Biology

WILD(ECOL) 4575/6575 Conservation Medicine

Course Information | Journal of 2009 trip

Conservation medicine is an emerging field that is concerned with the interface between human health, animal health (both wild and domestic) and ecosystem health. It is a synthesis of the fields of veterinary medicine, public health, ecology, forestry and natural resources and the principles of conservation biology, biogeography, population genetics, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy and other disciplines to understand and maintain biological diversity throughout the world.

Duration: 4 weeks (31 days)
Course Credit Hours: 6 credit hours

Course Objectives:

To learn and practice the basic principles and major topics of conservation medicine and conservation biology in field conditions, including Costa Rican culture, service/outreach to local communities
To understand how to create and implement hypothesis-driven research projects in the field.
To develop efficient and safe field work skills in a tropical environment
To understand how the interplay of humans and nature have shaped the landscape in Costa Rica
To promote interdisciplinary collaboration and integration between students in veterinary medicine, ecology, and wildlife/forestry/natural resources
To understand the cultural and socioeconomic issues that relevant to conservation biology and conservation medicine.
To encourage US-Costa Rican professional integration between UGA, captive animal facilities, and the Universidad Nacional (National University of Costa Rica)
To foster US-Costa Rican cultural integration between UGA students and faculty with the people of Costa Rica.

Contact

Dr. Sonia Hernandez, DVM, PhD, DACZM
Assistant Professor
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Veterinary Medicine
shernandez@warnell.uga.edu

Web sites:
www.uga.edu/costarica
http://www.uga.edu/costarica/program_summer_vetmed.htm