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This cultural and scientific emersion program will investigate Cuba’s agroecology, tropical marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as the countries unique geology. As wildlife and habitat have faded from the tropics, Cuba’s importance as an ecological bastion has risen. The island has the largest tracts of untouched rain forest, unspoiled reefs and intact wetlands in the Caribbean islands. Cuba also is home to many unique, or endemic, species, including the solenodon, and the bee hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird. In this course, students will have the opportunity to learn about the marine ecology through first-hand investigation of the reefs off the shores of Cuba, and learn about rainforest ecology through observations of Cuban forests. The course will also examine the interplay between geology, ecology, evolution and adaptation in areas such as coastal xeromorphic vegetation, swamp ecosystems, and Viñales National Park.