Turkana Basin Institute Origins Field School

Location: Turkana Basin, KE

Season: May 28, 2016 to September 22, 2017

Session Dates: Sessions are held each Spring, Summer, and Fall term.

Application Deadline: May 20, 2016

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.kenyastudyabroad.org

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
Stony Brook University

Project Director:
Dr. Lawrence Martin; Dr. Jason Lewis

Project Description:

The Turkana Basin Institute, a joint venture between renowned paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey and Stony Brook University, is proud to offer unique full-semester and summer field school programs, focused on human prehistory, through Stony Brook. The programs address the place that humans occupy in the natural world and how we came to occupy that place. Modules cover Ecology, Vertebrate Paleontology, Archaeology, Paleoanthropology, and Geology. Participants gain hands-on experience in field survey and excavation methods, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, taphonomy and more, and will take field trips to important paleontological and archaeological sites, diverse ecological settings, and remarkable geological features throughout the Turkana Basin.

The Semester Abroad Program is comprised of five, 3-credit courses at the upper division or graduate level, and is offered each spring and fall semester. Participants will earn 15 upper-division credits while they explore and learn in the very place where the Leakey family and their colleagues have made, and continue to make, unprecedented discoveries into our very origins.

Our new Summer Program is comprised of three, 3-credit courses at the upper division or graduate level, and is offered every summer. Participants earn at least nine upper-division credits and will work directly with leading scientists at active hominin fossil localities and archaeological excavations, such as at Lomekwi 3 (the oldest stone tool site in the world).

Accommodations are very beautiful, safe, and comfortable. Students live in newly constructed dormitories or bungalows, all with ample clean drinking water, showers, flushing toilets, comfy beds with mosquito nets (usually on the veranda under the stars), delicious, restaurant style varied food, swimming areas, and limited internet.

Period(s) of Occupation: Miocene, Plio-Pleistocene, Holocene

Notes:
Archaeology, Palentology, Paleoanthropology, Geology, Ecology Field, lab, and classroom training in

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
The TBI facilitutes are newly constructed dormitories, class roomes and research labs. It is a remote and very safe location. Ample fresh water from a well, deliciuos freshly prepared food by our expert chefs includes, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, eggs, snacks,deserts. Students are provided with a shared room (although most move their beds outside onto the veranda for a cool breeze), a comfortable bed with moscito netting, all bedding and towels. Laundry service included. Very clean and comfortable. Showers, flush toilets, sinks. Wifi (slow) available, as is a small computer lab with netbooks.  Cost:

Academic Credit:
Semester Program: 15 upper-division; Summer Program: 9 upper-division; students may apply to do an independent study course for extra credit. credits offered by Stony Brook University, NY. Tuition is .