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Turkana Basin Institute Introduces New Summer Programs
For the first time this year, the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) is offering two programs during the summer in northern Kenya. Students will be able to choose between the traditional TBI course offerings during the new Summer Origins Field School and a new engineering-focused program with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS). The CEAS program will concentrate on design and applying knowledge with limited resources to real-world problems both at TBI and in the surrounding community. TBI is a non-profit joint venture founded by Stony Brook University and Richard Leakey, renowned paleoanthropologist and conservationist. TBI’s facilities are comprised of two compounds, Turkwel and Ileret, situated on either side of Lake Turkana. The sprawling campuses, which are unique in both size and location, allow for important archeological, geological, and anthropological research on either side of the Turkana Basin, including remote areas in Sibiloi National Park. These new summer programs join the existing semester-long field schools held each Fall and Spring, where students spend 11 weeks which include 5 intensive 2-week sessions studying ecology, geology, anthropology, human evolution, and prehistoric archaeology with Stony Brook University faculty and other prominent scholars from around the world. Students participate in hands-on activities in the field and TBI labs, as well as participating in community volunteer projects. “There are many ongoing research projects in the field throughout the year in Turkana, one of which I co-lead, and students get to play a part in the discovery during the courses. After the program, we’ve invited many Origins Field School alums to come with us to excavate for a month during our field season” explained Summer Field School Director Jason Lewis.
According to TBI Director Lawrence Martin, students frequently comment that they have “never worked so hard, never learned so much, and never enjoyed learning so much.” This learning extends far beyond just academics. “[I learned that] your success starts with having the drive and willingness to succeed already inside you. There was no one there to hold my hand and guide me through, I had to be that for myself,” said participant Kaitlin Farrell. “There were certainly times, usually in the field, that I’d look around me, pause, and think, ‘I’m actually here. I actually did it.’ You can’t put a price on that sense of accomplishment.” Because of its unique structure and location, students from around the world participate in the TBI field school every semester, including those from Europe, Africa, and other parts of the US. “Being surrounded by so many different cultures can really change your perspective on society. I think it made me a better person,” said Evan Wilson. Dr. Jun Liu, Vice Provost for Global Affairs, reflected on his recent trip to the TBI Field School. “My experience was truly one of a kind, blending nature with scientific discovery, and enabling creative research through experiential learning. I experienced, observed, and learned something new and exciting every day,” he said. “I’m proud that TBI is associated with Stony Brook University, and that we are giving our students this unique opportunity to transform their lives.” Although the program focuses on anthropology, students from all majors are welcome to apply, and credits fulfill SBC requirements. TBI is currently accepting applications for the Summer 2017 Field School, which will run from June 3 to July 14. Visit Study Abroad for more details. |
This applied learning approach is what draws many students to the program. “[TBI
offered] an opportunity to learn in a way I rarely have,” said Joseph Kowalski, a
Spring 2016 participant. “Actually walking through these sites looking for artifacts
and fossils made it feel like I had stepped into a research paper.”