Overseas Conservation Education and Research: The New Colonialism?
- Resource Type
- Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Opinion Papers
- Authors
- Hart, Adam G.; Leather, Simon R.; Sharma, Manju V.
- Source
- Journal of Biological Education. 2021 55(5):569-574.
- Subject
- Conservation Education
Field Experience Programs
Undergraduate Students
Student Volunteers
International Programs
Foreign Policy
Study Abroad
Attitude Change
Inclusion
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0021-9266
The overseas field course is a common feature of European and North American undergraduate degrees and increasingly students are seeking out volunteering opportunities abroad in order to gain career-related experience in the overcrowded conservation sector. We argue that, without careful consideration, both activities run the twin risks of becoming 'parachute' science and perpetuating harmful neo-colonial attitudes. We propose a series of guidelines for those running overseas university field courses and volunteering activities to reduce these risks.