Harvard Amazon Rainforest Immersion

The Harvard Amazon Rainforest Immersion will provide an intensive, cross-disciplinary introduction to the Amazon’s ecosystems, societies, and economies, exploring the local complexities and challenges of sustainable development. Participants will be exposed to: 

• foundational scientific concepts underlying the functioning of the rainforest ecosystem, its importance to the earth system, and how it is changing rapidly;  

• interconnections between deforestation, illegal extractive activities, biodiversity loss, health, human capital and inequalities;  

• local cultures, including indigenous and riverine communities, and the complex relationship between culture and climate politics; 

• the Amazon’s rich biodiversity and the potential to leverage science, technology, and natural resources for sustainable socioeconomic development, and;

• local research, innovations and success cases that are recognized global references.

Participants will engage deeply with specific topics of interest through site visits; lectures and discussions; interactions with experts, local communities, and other learners; and the development of a written report that reflects on learnings and shares ideas for future projects in or on the Amazon. 

Preparatory work will be assigned and a pre-departure meeting will take place prior to the Immersion.

Dates: August 7-18, 2024. Accepted students and scholars are required to participate for the entire duration of the Immersion.

Location: The Immersion will begin and end Manaus. Most days will be spent travelling on an expedition by boat and by land in the State of Amazonas.

Eligibility for Harvard Students: Returning Harvard students in good academic standing from any Harvard School and program are all eligible to apply.

Eligibility for Harvard Scholars: Returning Harvard scholars (postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, etc.) from any Harvard School and program are all eligible to apply.

Eligibility of Non-Harvard Applicants: Applicants not associated with Harvard must reside in a country that shares part of the Amazon Rainforest, have advanced or fluent English language skills, and either: 1) be currently enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral Program at the time of the application deadline; or 2) have completed a Masters or Doctoral Program within the past five years and currently be employed as a researcher associated with a public or not-for-profit institution. 

Please Note: The Immersion will include several days traveling by boat, travel on unpaved roads, and visits that may involve relatively long hikes. Those who often feel motion sickness on boats or in motorized vehicles are not advised to apply. No special training is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is advisable. Most meals will reflect a local fish-based diet, but options for vegetarians and vegans will be available.

Program Fee: The Immersion Program Fee is US$1,200 (one thousand and two hundred dollars) per participant, which helps pay for accommodations, travel, site visits, and other programmatic costs. Thanks to support from the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies Brazil Office, the Program Fee income represents less than 1/3 of the total expected Immersion costs.

Participants are also responsible for their own travel to and from Manaus and for personal and incidental expenses, such as passport and visa fees, required vaccines, local independent tourism, and transportation to and from their local airport.

Financial Aid may be available for participants who are accepted to the Immersion and are unable to afford the Program Fee. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of their financial means. 

Harvard student applicants: Please complete this application form by February 26, 2024.

Harvard scholar applicants: Please complete this application form by February 26, 2024.

Non-Harvard applicants: Apply though this application form by February 26, 2024.