Department of Environmental and Plant Biology Global Studies - Winter Intersession 2005 New Zealand's South Island and Stewart Island

image modified from NASA's earth observatory

Confirmed New Zealand Itinerary - [flight#s in brackets] 29 Nov - depart from Columbus OH    CMH-> Chicago OHare   1030am - 1057am  [ UA301  ]    OHare-> LAX                  100pm - 322pm         [ UA111  ]    LAX ->  Aukland             745pm - 530am      (Dec1st)  [ ANZ1  ]    Aukland -> Christchurch   710am  - 830am   (Dec1st)  [ ANZ503  ] 1   Dec - Arrive in Christchurch NZ 18 Dec - Return to Columbus OH      CHCH -> AUCKLAND      430pm - 550pm    [ NZ532  ]      AUCKLAND -> LAX      730pm - 10:25am    [ NZ6  ]      LAX -> Denver      220pm - 538pm    [ UA336  ]      Denver -> CMH      635pm - 1112pm  [ UA7674  ] 18   Dec - Return to CMH (not a typo, we depart + arrive on same date) NOTE<<<<< each student is personally responsible for their own  transportation to and from the Columbus Airport Destinations (see image at right)   1. Christchurch 2. Arthur's Pass National Park -  based out of the Cass field station 3. Hokatika (at Coast) -  based out of the HariHari Field station 4. Okarito Lagoon 5.  Franz Josef Glacier 6. Te Anu 7.  Invercargill 8.  Stewart Island 9.  Dunedin & the Otago Peninsula Detailed schedule, dates and locations, as PDF

above image from LoneyPlanet.com

Most flights go to NZ out of the Los Angeles Airpport. We'll depart from Columbus, arrive in Los Angeles, and then take the 10+ hour flight to New Zealand. We'll mainly stay in youth hostels, small hotels, and "backpackers", and rent vans to transport ourselves and our gear around the South Island. We'll fly into Christchurch (the largest city on the South Island) , get acclimated, and then do a counter-clockwise tour of the South Island by car.

• Commit to trip financially by end of spring quarter (w/ deposit)
  
• Enroll in Fall Quarter "Global Studies" class
• Participate in Fall Quarter Seminar (including mandatory Hocking Hills field trip)
• Go to NZ with class 29 Nov - 19 Dec 2005

• New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot with many unique plants and animals
  
• NZ has been an isolated island country for ~80 million years!
• The rugged, isolated landscapes of the South Island are amazing
  
• Stewart Island is the most remote and wild part of NZ, and the only part of the country with healthy populations of kiwi birds, the flightless birds that are a symbol of NZ
• Virtually all of NZ's forest industry is based on the propagation of a single species: Pinus radiata, which has a tiny native range in coastal California.  A risky prospect!

• The "Lord of the Rings" films were made in NZ!
• NZ's "All Blacks"  rugby team starts each match with a Maori haka
• Maori culture and ethnobotany are unique and fascinating!
• NZ is a part of the British Commonwealth, so you can experience the fun of driving on the "wrong side" of the road as well as  tea time.
  

Why is Global Studies an unique field experience for students?

Global studies in Plant Biology is an intensive, 6 credit-hour course that combines aspects regular coursework, seminar discussion, international field research, and optional follow-up laboratory research. 

In the fall quarter we'll prepare for our field trip by meeting weekly for a seminar and discussing the natural history of New Zealand. In addition any additional logistics for the trip will be addressed in the seminar (international travel, first aid, etc.).

The class will be limited to approximately 8 students.

What will we do when we get to NZ?

Dr. Vis' research area is freshwater algae, so for part of our field research we'll be putting on waders and exploring the algae of cold mountain streams coming out of the NZ Alps.  Dr. Brown's research area is the structure and physiological function of forests, and so the other aspect of our field research will explore the endemic forest types of NZ.  We'll also be stopping to visit museums, parks, and other natural features as we travel.

For the 3-week experience, typically we'll have ~5 days of intensive field experience, and then a day "off" for you to enjoy NZ on your own. Imagine kayaking in the Fjordlands of the southern South Island, or surfing at Hokatika on the West Coast, or peeking at yellow-eyed penguins near Dunedin...


How much, and how can I pay for this trip?

Based on an enrollment of 8 students, the cost for the entire trip will be approximately $5000.  This will include airfare RT from Columbus Airport to Christchurch NZ, all accommodations and in-country transportation (car rental, car insurance, gas), RT ferry to Stewart Island from Invercargill, and some group meals (9 dinners).  Students will need to bring funds for breakfast and lunches and for souvenir spending.

Because this is being offered as a fall quarter course, your Financial Aid packages can be used to support this trip! Plan ahead and ask for additional student loan funding. Other study abroad programs have a program fee and a tuition bill, but not this one! Your fall tuition covers tuition costs for the NZ trip, so please bear that in mind if you are shopping around for a class.

update on costs and billing (as of 14 sept) 
$4290 = program fee (-$500 deposit) = $3790 <= amount owed (+ $150 course admin fee for StudyAbroad)

quarterly billing cycle:
        you will receive an e-bill on 2 dec, due = 20 dec

monthly billing cycle: 
    you will receive e-bills on these dates =  8 dec, 10 jan, 8 feb
    they will be due on these dates respectively = 3 jan, 1 feb, 1 march

PROFESSOR BIOS

Dr. Morgan Vis' laboratory website
Dr. Kim J. Brown's laboratory website

Contact list of students going on the trip is HERE

last modified by KJB 10 NOV 2005