The School for Field Studies / SFS: Chile – Climate Studies in Patagonia

In Chilean Patagonia, towering pinnacles clash with rivers of ice, and
life persists in the face of challenging seasonal extremes. Penguins, foxes,
sea lions, and guanaco are just a few of the region’s hardy wildlife. Situated
in the Ring of Fire, Patagonia’s stunning, snow-covered volcanic range presents
an unmatched opportunity to study complex geological and seismic processes.

The fragile ecosystems of southern Chile and
Argentina are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – unpredictable
storms, glacial melt, shifting temperatures, fires, and droughts. Our research
in Patagonia examines ecology and geologic systems, the motivations and
trade-offs of conservation decisions in the region, and species found nowhere
else on the planet..

• 
  Wild Patagonia: Fire and Ice (SEMESTER PROGRAM): Spend a semester amid
  the soaring peaks, massive glaciers, and narrow fjords of Patagonia, where the
  trails of national parks like Torres del Paine become your classroom for
  research and field work. Embark on expeditions to the southernmost tip of South
  America and the volcanic lakes region of northern Patagonia to study climate
  change impacts, diverse ecosystems, and conservation in one of the world’s most
  iconic regions.
  
  

SFS students live and study at the Center for Climate
Studies, located near the bustling port city of Puerto Natales – the gateway to
the famous Torres del Paine National Park. This scenic city, surrounded
by the jagged peaks of Cerro Benítez and the deep blue waters of the Señoret
Channel, serves as your home base for expeditions throughout the region.