Island Ecology Program
The Island Ecology Program is an interdisciplinary summer field school. Following a seminar (Environmental Studies 140, a half course) during the spring semester, students study geology, hydrology, marine and invertebrate biology, soils, plant communities, land-use and wildlife ecology for five weeks on St. Catherines Island, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia. The experience emphasizes the interdependence of these disciplines by exploring how the island ecosystem functions.
Now in its 26th year, the Island Ecology Program has inspired a generation of Sewanee students. It provides the unique opportunity to live and work on St. Catherines, one of the largest undeveloped islands on the Atlantic coast of the United States. While on the island, students have use of a new laboratory and classroom built by the St. Catherines Island Foundation. The program involves faculty from multiple departments at Sewanee and outside experts with long experience on St. Catherines.
The Island Ecology Program was recently reviewed in the Sewanee Magazine.
The summer field school (Environmental Studies 240, two full courses) satisfies the science and laboratory science requirements and one writing-intensive credit. The program is open to students from all academic majors and interests, and successful participants have included majors in subjects as diverse as philosophy, theater, chemistry, and political science. Costs are similar to other summer school programs and financial aid is available to students on financial aid.
An information session about the program is held in early November. Applications are due before Thanksgiving, and spaces in the program are offered and assigned before the winter break. The program is not open to graduating seniors.
Program founder Timothy Keith-Lucas retired in 2011 after 25 years as Director of the Island Ecology Program.
For more information, contact the Island Ecology Program faculty:
- David Haskell, Department of Biology
- Bran Potter, Department of Forestry and Geology
- Ken Smith, Program Co-Director, Department of Forestry and Geology
- Kirk Zigler, Program Co-Director, Department of Biology
Or current students who participated in the program:
- Patrick Berger, Keri Bryan, Mary Michael Forrester, Michelle Ghandi, Katie Qualls, Miller Thornbury, Patrick Vestal, Ali Brown, Matt Hagler, Watson Hartsoe, Lauren Joca, Arden Jones, Vincent Leray, Eileen Schaeffer, Katie Wakefield, Parker Haynes, Mary Hosch, Shannon Jones, Will Noggle, Joanna Parkman, Tarver Shimek and Daniel Williams
