The summer 2024 Education for Sustainable Development program of the Global Columbia Collaboratory offers the opportunity to virtually engage with a small group of Columbia University students and Brazilian peers over the course of 15 weeks this summer. Students will also travel to Brazil in July for 1 to 3 weeks.
If you have any questions, write to globalcollab@columbia.edu or watch a recording of one of the INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kXX2xrMv1k
Overview
Through global seminars, small group meetings, and working on a collaborative project for the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability (FAS), you’ll learn about environmental realities in Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon; the important role the humanities, arts, and social sciences can play not just in producing solutions to environmental problems but in understanding how those problems emerged; how NGOs, government agencies, and communities are working collaboratively to address sustainable development challenges to achieve the SDGs in Brazil; and gain hands-on experience through a 1-3 week in-country field experience in Rio de Janeiro and three riverine communities on the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon.
The Collaboratory is a not-for-credit program offered by the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement in partnership with Columbia Global Centers Rio de Janeiro and FAS (Fundação Amazônia Sustentável). Students may consider using their participation in the program for elective academic credit, and/or internship, capstone, practicum, or research requirements.
If you have any questions, write to globalcollab@columbia.edu or watch a recording of one of the INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kXX2xrMv1k
Eligibility and Application
Applications are limited to Columbia University undergraduates who are currently enrolled and in good academic and disciplinary standing at the New York City campus of Columbia University.
At the point of application and throughout the Global Columbia Collaboratory experience, you must be:
Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Columbia University
In good disciplinary standing
Students must be able to fully participate in all activities and meetings throughout the 15-week program
The Collaboratory is conducted in English.
APPLICATION DEADINE:
Applications are open until Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
Financial Considerations
The virtual portion of the Collaboratory program is free to participants but there is a program fee for the in-country field experience.
Student fee: $2,500
Included in the student fee:
a $500 non-refundable deposit
lodging
in-country transportation
all meals
in-country excursions
Gold Standard-certified carbon offset credit for flights to/from NYC
Excluded costs:
student transportation to/from Brazil (the program begins in Rio de Janeiro and concludes in Manaus)
costs associated with securing a valid passport and visa (if applicable)
vaccines for travel to Brazil (required: single dose of Yellow Fever vaccine & all COVID boosters)
personal spending money
Tentative Timeline and Expectations
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
February 19: Applications open
March 13: Applications due
March 18 - 22: Applicants will be asked to sign up for a brief interview with the program organizers
March 25: Finalists will be notified
April 1: Confirmation of Participation forms and $500 due
Virtual and In-person Programming
Programming for the Collaboratory will take place over 15 weeks (May - August*) and students should expect to spend 5 - 6 hours a week engaged with Collaboratory content, seminars and activities. Additionally, students must be able to travel to the on-sight program.
Weeks 1 - 6: virtual programming/synchronous meetings
Weeks 7 - 8: in-country field study/Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon (state of Manaus)
Weeks 9 - 15: virtual programming/synchronous meetings & Project Showcase
*Finalized Schedule, including the duration of the in-country field study in Brazil, will be provided in mid-March 2024.
Students must be able to participate in all meetings and activities as part of joining the Summer 2024 Collaboratory.
Components
GLOBAL SEMINARS
Global seminars are led by faculty, practitioners, and researchers on education for sustainable development and environmental humanities, and are drawn from the extensive networks of Columbia University.
TOOLBOX SESSIONS
These are skills-based workshops to support students’ global learning, intercultural communication, and successful completion of a project as requested by staff from Foundation for Amazon Sustainability (FAS).
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS - “PODs”
Collab PODs are facilitated small group sessions that meet on a weekly basis to provide students with specific content related to Rio de Janeiro and Amazonian ecosystems and to foster students’ connection and reflection as they process and build on their learning.
PROJECT WORK SESSIONS
Student collaborators meet to work on their project for FAS.
ON-SITE FIELD EXPERIENCE
Students will spend time in Rio de Janeiro and select Amazon riverine communities visiting sites of environmental significance, working on their NGO/partner project, learning from observation, and engaging in field study.