Study global citizenship and sustainability in the indigenous communities of Malaysian Borneo.

This program fosters cross-cultural learning while building skills in community-based research, partnered with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and with Penan village leaders. The student project will build on information and communication Technologies (ICTs) for rural and indigenous sustainable development. Indigenous, local, and traditional knowledge systems and practices, including indigenous peoples’ holistic views of community and environment, are a major resource for adapting to climate change, but these have not been used consistently in existing adaptation efforts in Malaysian Borneo. 

Under Professor Shorna Allred, teams of students will conduct community-based research in partnership with village leaders and university partners with the intention of gaining a broader understanding of the issues of climate change and how it is impacting the Kelabit Highlands on the island of Borneo. 

The research project will focus on the role of ICTs in learning about and documenting climate change impacts and mitigation and adaptation factors.

Requirements

Accepted participants are required to enroll in a Fall 2019 pre-departure course (NTRES 4000, MWF 2:30-3:20 p.m.) on community-based reseach methods.  The trip will take place in January 2020, for a duration of three weeks during winter break (January 2 to 17). 

There is a $2,000 program fee (not including airfare) associated with the course that must be paid by September 2019 to cover costs for food, local transportation, housing, cultural, and academic activities. There is also a seven week post-departure course spring 2020.

Application Deadline

The deadline has passed for this year.

Stay Connected for Updates

More details about the program are available on the Experience Cornell website, and make sure you have subscribed to the SEAP listserv to receive the latest updates on deadlines for study abroad applications and funding deadlines.