Wanderlust isn鈥檛 easy to curb. Someone who loves to travel yearns for more with every photo they see of a far-away land, every story they鈥檙e told by a friend just back from a worldly adventure. There鈥檚 no way around it: you must go abroad to scratch the travel bug鈥檚 itch.
Clare Snow, now a fourth-year student in Biology and Psychology, faced a decision many deliberate when they鈥檙e finishing up high school: start university right away or to take time off to travel first? She chose to attend university.
鈥淲hen I got here, it was always at the back of my mind. I kind of wish that I had have taken that time [to travel],鈥� recalls Clare.
Luckily, the Faculty of Science鈥檚 SEASIDE Program offers a chance for students to combine travel and course credit through the Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity Field Class, which takes place in Sri Lanka. Clare signed up for the class the first day registration opened. This past summer, she and 16 other students attended tailored lectures and labs on campus in Halifax to prepare for 18 days exploring the island nation鈥檚 many ecosystems.
鈥淚 never realized that I鈥檇 have an opportunity to do both at once 鈥� focus on my education while experiencing a new place and a new culture,鈥� says Clare.
Learning by doing
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Rajesh Rajaselvam, Arunika Gunawardena and Cindy Staicer, all with the Department of Biology, led students on the (study) trip of a lifetime. As an added bonus, the students got to experience the country like a local would because both Rajaselvam and Gunawardena are Sri Lankan themselves.
鈥淭his course is important because it gives students the opportunity to scientifically explore tropical ecosystems in one of the world鈥檚 biodiversity hotpots,鈥� explains Rajaselvam. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a tourist kind of thing for them. They have to take samples for both soil and leaf analyses. They had assignments to complete there. They learned many things and they asked so many questions.鈥�
All that work took place in a number of different environments abundant in flora and fauna: wetlands, mangroves, mountains, rainforests, dry plains and more. The conservation of critical habitats and wildlife was big part of the lessons too. Local experts like Gamini Hitinayake with the University of Peradeniya not only helped explain the science behind it all, but taught the students the importance of understanding both political and cultural climates when working in conservation.
Connecting with professors
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Clare鈥檚 interest in the field class wasn鈥檛 just about the desire to travel. She was also excited to learn from Rajaselvam again.
鈥淚n my third year, I took introductory ecology taught by Raj. On the first day of that class he talked about how it wasn鈥檛 all about the marks 鈥� he just wanted everyone to love ecology. That made an impact on me. It drew me to the field class. I knew that would be the overall feeling of the class. I鈥檓 obviously there to learn, but I鈥檓 also going to enjoy the learning process.鈥�
Clare describes a packed itinerary full of 鈥渋ncredible experiences.鈥� One standout happened in Yala National Park, home to wildlife like elephants, leopards, sloth bears, water buffaloes, and various birds and reptiles.
鈥淲e had to cut the engine because this massive male elephant walked across the road in front of our jeep鈥� he was eating leaves, throwing dirt on his back. Making eye contact with an elephant鈥� it sounds bizarre, but after he walked away, I was so content and so calm. It鈥檚 hard to describe.鈥�
Tailoring a degree
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For a student also taking the Certificate in Animal Behaviour, experiencing wildlife in a natural habitat adds to Clare's educational goals. Sri Lanka was the first step. Now that she鈥檚 back on campus finishing her fourth year, she鈥檚 doing an independent research project on songbirds native to Nova Scotia with Dr. Staicer, one of her Sri Lankan field class professors.
鈥淐lare and all 16 other students performed so well in the field class,鈥� says听 Rajaselvam. 鈥淭hey definitely exhibited their knowledge in tropical ecology.鈥�
Snapshots
There was no shortage of photo opportunities during this field class. Professors and students captured many memories on this one-of-a-kind trip. View the gallery below.
