University of Texas at Austin: Maymester: Nature, Society, and Sustainability

Ecuador is a small country with outstanding environmental and cultural diversity, and is a perfect location for the study of environmental and social change and sustainability. Coastal mangrove wetlands, mountain valleys and peaks and Amazonian lowland forests are home to diverse indigenous peoples and immigrants. The recent Constitution of Ecuador enshrines respect for environmental and cultural diversity as essential for a sustainable buen vivir. This Maymester uses Ecuador as a classroom, maximizing student experiences of a wide range of urban, rural and wild landscapes where students gain insight into current debates about environmental change, agriculture and development.