Pacific Islands Field Training Program, Roviana, Solomon Islands

Pacific Islands Field Training Program

Roviana, New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands
Dates: June 15 - July 20, 2006

Director: Dr. Shankar Aswani, University of California, Santa Barbara
Funded by the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program, 2003-2008

Overview of the program:

The Pacific Islands Field Training Program is for undergraduate and graduate college/university students primarily of Pacific Island descent and offers financial support (airfare and room/board costs) for the participants. Approximately ten students are selected each year for an intensive 4 week summer session in a remote village environment. This field school challenges the students both academically and personally. Many students find village life and the living conditions in a tropical marine environment physically and mentally demanding.

The program consists of training in ethnographic and marine science field methods, cross-cultural understanding, basic Roviana language classes, and the development and completion of individual research projects. For information on past student research projects click here for 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Field Site

Program Staff

	How to apply
	Photo Gallery^N^ew!

Field Training Program is part of Dr. Aswani's five-year project that integrates research on customary sea tenure institutions and marine resource utilization in New Georgia, Solomon Islands. Participants in the Pacific Islands Field Training Program have the opportunity to get involved with Dr. Aswani's research, including applied anthropology, geo-spatial field methodologies, sustainable conservation, and community development projects.

The 2006 predeparture packet is available for download here.

For more information on Dr. Aswani's research see:

Rural Development and Community-based Resource Management in the Solomon Islands
Human Palaeoecology in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia