Amazon: Avian & Tropical Ecology
Journey to the Amazon and learn how communities are working to save this astonishing and irreplaceable ecosystem.
Earth Expeditions
Earth Expeditions are Miami University study abroad courses designed for people who are looking for inspiring professional development opportunities while earning graduate credit. All courses engage with grassroots conservation and sustainability programs that are making a difference in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Earth Expeditions Courses
Enrolled students travel to important conservation areas to gain first-hand knowledge of local biodiversity and community conservation efforts for the benefit of humans and wildlife worldwide. All courses also involve an on-going online component in which students interact to make change in their home communities. View our planned 2025 Earth Expeditions dates. Please note that the dates are subject to change at any given time.
Australia: Great Barrier Reef
Dive into the conservation and education opportunities of the Great Barrier Reef, the global center of marine biodiversity.
The Bahamas: Cultivating Conservation Networks
Snorkel in biodiverse marine protected areas, explore unique national parks, and gain an understanding of community-driven initiatives by talking directly with local experts at the forefront of conservation.
Baja: Field Methods
Experience the spectacular desert and marine landscapes of two richly diverse biosphere reserves through ecological and social field methods.
Belize: Approaches to Environmental Stewardship
Investigate coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars, and other wildlife while learning the methods communities are using to sustain them.
Borneo: Primate Conservation
Study Borneo’s primate denizens, including the orangutan. Develop new ways to engage communities worldwide in primate conservation.
Brazil: Saving Golden Lion Tamarins
Seeing a family of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) in the mystical Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil is quite an experience.
Costa Rica: Ecology & Ecotourism
Work alongside long-time conservationists as you observe sea turtles and hike through lowland and coastal rainforests investigating the ecogical and social factors that influence ecotourism in Costa Rica.
Galápagos: Islands of Change
Visit the realm of giant tortoises; study the forces of evolutionary, geologic, and social change; contribute to sustainable solutions for this astounding archipelago.
Guyana: Local Wisdom & Conservation
Experience one of the greatest examples of primary rainforest in the world. Learn how indigenous Makushi communities are building a sustainable future.
India: Species, Deities & Communities
Journey through the stunning ecological, cultural, and spiritual landscapes of the Western Ghats, where people, wildlife, and deities meet in sacred groves and forest temples.
Kenya: Wildlife & People in Integrated Landscapes
Join conservationists, educators, community leaders, and youth to study sustainable approaches to human wildlife coexistence.
Mongolia: Steppe Ecology & Civic Media
Explore an incomparable grassland ecosystem. Learn how to support citizen conservation reporters.
Namibia: Great Cat Conservation
Experience ongoing research projects such as radio tracking, cheetah physiology, ecosystem management, and the design of school and community programs.
Paraguay: Eco-Leadership
Students in this course co-develop an Eco-Leadership program in Paraguay with our partner, Para La Tierra.
Thailand: Buddhism & Conservation
Study emerging models in conservation and education. Understand nature through Buddhist philosophy.
FAQs
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Global Partners
Meet our amazing global partners here!
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Conservation at home and abroad
Earth Expeditions consist of two required components:
- a 5-credit summer term study abroad experience (~10 days) with complementary online coursework
- a 2-credit fall semester follow-up online course in which participants actualize change in their local communities.
Earth Expeditions courses are open to any adult learners and teachers seeking professional development opportunities to benefit their career, as well as individuals simply seeking a unique life-changing experience. Earth Expeditions are also taken by graduate students working towards a M.A.T. in Biology or a M.A. in Biology through Dragonfly’s two graduate programs in biology: the Global Field Program and the Advanced Inquiry Program.
Building Relationships
Through these unique field experiences and the related online coursework, participants form lasting relationships with leading educators, community leaders, and conservationists from around the world.
All students collaborate with caring Miami University instructors and classmates in Dragonfly Workshops, an easy-to-use web-based learning community created by Miami’s Project Dragonfly. Through this learning platform, students worldwide discuss assignments, develop projects, and exchange ideas throughout the summer and fall semesters.
During the international field experiences, students and instructors discuss course content and connect over shared once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as snorkeling with whale sharks in Baja, Mexico, witnessing cheetah conservation first-hand in Namibia, viewing wild macaws and sloths in the Peruvian Amazon, and more. We encourage you to check out the courses to learn more.
Student Reflections
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Australia Student Reflection: Meghan Manary
" I now joke that nothing that I do in the future will ever matter because I have completed my life goal of studying conservation in Australia, which I once thought was unachievable (part of me is not joking though)"
India Student Reflection: Allie Coronado
"Words will never truly encompass the life-transforming experience I endured during my time there,"
Thailand Student Reflection: Grace Masaoka
"The experiences in Thailand taught me so much, in so many different ways. Being immersed in Thai culture and Buddhism, learning about conservation efforts, getting to explore our own inquiries, and the privilege of seeing hornbill research up close and personal (and the list goes on)"
Belize Student Reflection: Charles Ruff
"There is no doubt in my mind that if I could go back and do it all over again then I would! I wouldn't change anything about it."
Baja Student Reflection: Tessa Cafritz
"I think about sleeping under the stars, about walking through forests of cacti as the sun was setting, creating biolumincise through the waving of my hands"
We Envision
Earth Expeditions is jointly offered by Project Dragonfly at Miami University and conservation and education partners worldwide. Our mission is to build an alliance of individuals with first-hand knowledge of inquiry-driven, community-based learning for the benefit of ecological communities, student achievement, and global understanding.
Earth Expeditions envisions each person as an ambassador who creates as well as transmits knowledge, who promotes authentic dialogue at all levels of society, and who inspires others to do the same. By adopting participatory models of education, schools become centers of investigation, students engage more deeply in their studies, and communities achieve higher levels of self-determination.
Is This for Me?
Here are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.
Earth Expeditions courses are 7 graduate credit hour (5 credit Summer Term courses + 2 credit Fall Semester courses) online courses that combine direct global study experiences in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas with engagement in Dragonfly Workshops’ web-based learning community. Courses typically run from April through mid-December, with the international field “in-country” portion of each class typically lasting 9-10 days.
The field portion of each Earth Expeditions course lasts 9 or 10 days. Students traveling long distances should plan to add an addition 1 or 2 days of travel to this timeframe.
View our planned 2025 Earth Expeditions dates. Please note that the dates are subject to change at any given time.
It depends. Each state has different requirements for certification. Please check with your state’s Department of Education or your local university’s College of Education or similar department to find out the details for your area.
To support involvement by a broad range of individuals worldwide, Miami University currently offers a reduced tuition rate for all Dragonfly classes. We recommend that accepted applicants check with their employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs; please also visit Helping to Fund your Degree and Scholarships for Current Dragonfly Students for additional suggestions. Federal financial aid may be available to degree-seeking students; please visit Project Dragonfly Financial Aid Information for details.
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Contact Project Dragonfly
111 Upham Hall
Oxford, Ohio
Est. 1994
