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A GSO Supported Experience
Queen’s Biology’s Biodiversity in East Africa 2024 program saw an impressive increase in student participation, thanks to the generous funding from Global Skills Opportunity (GSO). GSO funding comes from a unique partnership with the Government of Canada, Universities Canada, and Queen’s University that enables Queen's students, particularly Indigenous students, low-income students, and those with disabilities, to receive financial support for in-person mobility experiences.
Explore the Biodiversity in East Africa Program
The course, run by Queen’s Biology faculty members Drs. Stephen Lougheed and Yuxiang Wang, with collaboration with their Kenyan colleague Carol Muriuki and the organization Bunduz, offered an immersive educational experience on natural history, biodiversity, and conservation challenges in East Africa.
The program enables intensive skill building through seminars, class debates, guest lectures, field practica, and field trips that covered the geological history of East Africa, the biota and diverse habitats of Kenya, and its cultural, economic, and political history. Students gained skills in science and field research techniques, while getting a first-hand chance to analyze contemporary conservation issues.
The students and faculty all contributed to a detailed blog of their experiences in Kenya, which we highly encourage you to explore:
Visit the Biodiversity in East Africa 2024 Blog
This year's success reflects Dr. Lougheed's ability to combine academic rigor with practical, on-the-ground experiences, making it an invaluable opportunity for Queen's students to gain global skills and perspectives.
