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Project: March 15-22, 2008
Cost: $675/person
Host: University of Arizona
Notice: Beginning January 2008 all visitors crossing the US/MX border will need to have a valid passport.

Borders are a fascinating component of life in the desert Southwest. Near Tucson, they define differences in the environmental, cultural, political, and economic characteristics of southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.

Institute participants will explore the role of borders beginning in Tucson, then heading to the Tohono O’odham Nation and to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. After a couple days camping and exploring, we will cross the US-Mexico border to spend a night at the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and then move further south for a night in Puerto Peñasco on the shore of the Gulf of California.

Along the way we will be using Place-as-Text™ methodology; meeting local residents, politicians, and biologists; and examining
the environmental links and divisions in this arid desert.

The fascinating juxtaposition of ecology, policy, language, and politics will appeal to a broad range of participants who will be encouraged to apply their experiences to courses at their home institutions. Honors Directors, Deans, and Faculty from all subject areas are encouraged to explore this hands on approach to field-based interdisciplinary
learning.

Saguaro National Park - NPS web site
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - NPS website
Pinacate Biosphere, unofficial site
CEDO (Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans)

Project Archives :: |Borders Institute 2008 |