Summer Field Biology Opportunity for Native American Students

This program promotes understanding of environmental field biology and how field research is conducted. Native American students are prepared for advanced studies in environmental biology, so they can better manage their lands. Also, it promotes understanding of Native American attitudes towards the environment for non-Native American students, so these can be incorporated into better management. At East, students interact with the Waswagoning cultural center on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, and at West with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal cultural and natural resource departments, as well as through dialogue and collaboration among themselves. 

The program spans two summers (10 weeks/summer) 

Year 1 at UNDERC-East (May 20– July 26): 8000 acres of lakes, streams, wetlands, and forests owned by Notre Dame and a core site in the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) that are home to abundant wildlife (including beaver, porcupine, black bear, deer, loon). Course modules include vertebrate ecology, invertebrate ecology, aquatic ecology and forest ecology with each providing background information, field research exercises, and group research projects designed by the class. Five or more weeks are spent by each student designing and conducting their own field research project under direction of faculty or graduate students. Projects have ranged from fish, insect and mammal behavior and ecology to forest, lake and stream ecosystem ecology to local Native American ecosystem use. 

Year 2 at UNDERC-West (June 8 – August 14): More than a million acres on the National Bison Range and Flathead Reservation that includes grasslands, montane forests, streams and lakes that are home to abundant wildlife (including bison, elk, bighorn, and pronghorn). The course includes modules like those at UNDERC-East in wildlife and grassland ecology, montane ecology, and environmental history/Native American ecology (in part during the cross-country drive to and from –West). Each student conducts an independent research project in collaboration with a faculty or graduate student advisor that is more advanced given the skills learned at UNDERC-East. Recent projects have included invasive plant ecology, animal behavior and habitat relationships, grassland, forest, wetland and stream dynamics, and Native American plant and wildlife use. 

Applications are available on the UNDERC website (http://underc.nd.edu). Further information can be obtained from the website, or from Dr. Michael Cramer, UNDERC-East Assistant Director (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or Dr. David Flagel, UNDERC-West Assistant Director (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 

Application deadline is Friday, November 9, 2018. Notification of acceptance will be provided by Monday, December 10, 2018. Acceptance is based on past academic performance and a statement of purpose. Preference is given to students pursuing a career in environmental sciences. Applicants are required to be present for the duration of course.