Director

Annie Bosacker, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology

Professor Bosacker studies the behavior of wild baboons in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. She is well-versed in the challenges of field work, having survived near misses with an aggressive chimpanzee as well as a violent political coup. Her research centers on the social lives of female baboons, and she is especially interested in the social coping strategies females use to reduce their exposure to the ravages of stress. Professor Bosacker is also a graduate of this program, and she is extremely excited to have the opportunity to return to Australia with Carleton students. In fact, she credits this program with saving her from a life in the lab, as she had originally intended to pursue a career in cellular biology.

Introduction

There is still so much to learn about the millions of organisms—many as yet unidentified—that inhabit this planet. On this program, we will spend the majority of our time outside, learning how we, as scientists, can address many of biology’s most exciting questions by gathering data where organisms live and die: in the field. Australia is an ideal place to learn about the challenges and opportunities associated with field research. Australia offers myriad habitats, all teeming with its unique flora and fauna. By studying these organisms in the wild, we can learn about their evolutionary history, their ecological present, and the uncertain future that all organisms face. Twenty-five student participants will explore Australia alongside Professor Bosacker and a team of local university instructors. Academic and logistical support is provided by Global Education Designs, an outstanding company specializing in program design and program support. Global has worked with Carleton programs in Australia since 1987.