2015 Penn State Biology of EcoHealth in Tanzania beginning

For those of you just venturing to this site because your student has passed you the information, welcome! I am planning to post regular updates of our activities every day or two with the 2015 Penn State EcoHealth course in Tanzania. You can also find updates on Twitter @paulshaffner where I'll be tweeting using #PSUEcoHealth. You can also see updates via the embedded feed on the right of this page. 

In an emergency, you can reach my Tanzania mobile number by dialing: 011 255 763 617 278. You can also call the PSU University Park Police at 814.863.1111 and they will be able to get you in touch with our group.

I've just finished printing the course packets for this year's Biology of Eco-Health course. It's hard to believe that in 3 days, I'll be packed and on my way to meet this year's group of Penn State students at the airport in Dar es Salaam. Certain elements (packing, for example) I have down to a science, but we have a brand new itinerary, new readings, and a new group of students. It's always exciting to see how things come together. It's exciting because no matter how well we plan, there are always unexpected adventures that crop up along the way.

This year we will start out in Dar es Salaam on the coast of the Indian Ocean and head upland, through coastal thickets and miombo woodlands to Iringa in the highlands, and eventually on to Lake Malawi - having made a full transect of southern Tanzania from coast to coast. We'll learn from lots of people and places along the way and will depart a short 3 weeks later.

Safari njema wote (safe travels everyone)! See you in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday!