- Assessing Biodiversity: Students explore Madagascar’s unique plant and animal species and practice methods used by field biologists to study biodiversity within tropical forests. Instruction includes exposure to techniques such as behavioral sampling of non-human primates, mist netting of understory birds, stream ecology assessment, botanical sampling methods, pitfall trapping of invertebrates, small mammal trapping and herpetological assessments.
- Comparative Ecosystems Excursion: A cross-country trip provides students with the opportunity to explore and compare ecosystems as diverse as rainforest, dry deciduous tropical forest, spiny desert, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. At each stop, students learn about regional climate and geology, the evolutionary adaptations that make that region unique, and current conservation threats to local biodiversity.
- Ecological Monitoring Project: Students contribute to a long-term study of invasive plant and animal species within the forests of RNP. In carrying out this project, students have an opportunity to apply the field methods and techniques they have learned and provide much-needed information to the conservation community and park management officials.
- Malagasy Culture and Language: Students attend formal classes with Malagasy researchers employed by the Centre ValBio to learn about the country's fascinating history, culture and language. Outings to meet with local authorities, community and school groups, and the participation in a variety of cultural activities within the villages that surround RNP, give students an opportunity to practice their skills and expand their understanding of what it means to be Malagasy.
Madagascar Field School Program
Students at PennWest have an opportunity to attend the Madagascar Field School, an exciting study abroad opportunity in Madagascar, a large island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa.
The field school is led by Dr. Summer Arrigo-Nelson, of the Department of Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, who has conducted research in Madagascar for more than two decades.
PennWest sponsors the program in collaboration with the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments - Stony Brook, N.Y. and The University of Antananarivo - Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Students from any major are welcome to apply for this program, which is offered in even summers. The next Madagascar Field School is scheduled for Summer 2026.
About the Madagascar Field School
Students will complete a brief on-line orientation to prepare for the trip and then travel together to Madagascar. Once in Madagascar, students will live alongside scientist and scholars at the Centre ValBio Research Station in Ranomafana National Park as they explore the unique ecology and biodiversity of a tropical rainforest and gain hands-on experience in the research techniques used by professional field biologists, natural resource managers and conservationists.
Classes take place in a combination of settings, from traditional classrooms to the heart of the forest and in traditional Malagasy villages.
Learn about the CentreValBio Research Station
The program also includes cultural excursions in the capital city of Antananarivo, a cross-country trek to explore Madagascar's famed spiny desert, the Western dry forests and coral reefs, and it concludes with the completion of an original research project examining the impact of habitat disturbance on Madagascar’s biodiversity.
Students also gain the experience of living within a new cultural environment and meet grass-roots conservation leaders who are working to preserve both the unique animals and plants of Madagascar and the culture of the people who call the island home.
Important Dates
* September 2025: Applications become available (rolling admission until deadline)
* Late March 2026: Final applications accepted
* Early May 2026: Final program payment due
* Mid-May 2026: Program orientation site launches
* Late May - Early July 2026: Madagascar travel (Depart the week of May 24th, return the week of June 28th - final
dates will be set based on airline schedules and ticket prices.)
* July 31: Final papers due
Instructional Modules
Students attending the Madagascar Field School study abroad program complete these instructional modules:
Additional Information
Before departure, you are expected to visit a physician to complete a medical history
form and discuss the physical requirements of the trip. We strongly recommend that
you schedule this appointment for no less than three months before departure, so that
you have time to obtain any needed inoculations and have any prescriptions filled.
Although we try to provide you with guidance here -based on our experience- you and
your doctor are ultimately responsible for your health choices.
Research Site General Conditions
As our home base of Ranomafana National Park is in the mountains, is often cooler than visitors expect for a tropical environment. It is also mountainous with steep hills and rough/uneven terrain, so participants should try to get in shape prior to departure. The weather during June is typically cool, and it can be cold (especially at night when temperatures dip as low as 4°C/40°F) with frequent periods of rain. Students are advised to bring at least two sets of work clothes so that one can be worn while the other is drying, and a warm outfit to wear at night. Good quality, waterproof hiking boots are also essential as trails are often rocky and muddy.
- Humidity: 50% to 100%
- Temperature Range: 4°C/40°F to 31°C/88°F
- Altitude: 800 m/2,600 ft to 1,500 m/4,500 ft
- Rainfall: 635 mm/25 in to 2,540 mm/100 in
Medical Recommendations
Due to the remote location of the site, medical assistance is not readily available. Therefore, participants are required to be in good health and physical condition and to bring any necessary personal medications (including all prescriptions and frequently used over-the-counter products) with them to Madagascar. Although there is a small clinic in Ranomafana, the nearest hospital is a one-hour drive from the park.
Health concerns include the potential for intestinal parasites (especially giardia and amoebic dysentery), malaria, typhoid fever (rare), and hepatitis. Medical marijuana and CBD are wholly illegal in Madagascar and severe penalties (large fines and lengthy prison sentences) are frequently assessed to those caught transporting or using cannabis in any form.
Chloroquine resistant malaria is present throughout Madagascar and malaria is frequently contracted in cities and towns. Participants are encouraged to discuss malaria prophylaxis with their doctors. Malarone (atovaquone+proguanil) is the most effective and best tolerated drug among researchers at the Centre ValBio. Although Doxycycline is also occasionally used in Ranomafana, Malarone appears to give people better protection when traveling to other areas of the country (including the capital and coast). Although it works well for some, many people experience harmful side effects (including sleeplessness, night terrors, and/or hallucinations) while taking Larium and it’s use is strongly discouraged by the field school staff. Thankfully, due to the park’s high altitude and the efficacy of Malarone, malaria infections are rare among researchers and students at the ValBio!
The following vaccinations are strongly recommended for students participating in the Field School. Please discuss which immunizations to receive with your physician and/or a travel medicine specialist, as medical decisions are the responsibility of each participant. Please note that health conditions around the world are constantly changing, so keep informed and consult your physician, a local travel health clinic, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, for additional information closer to the date of departure.
- Typhoid
- DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)
- Polio
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningitis
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Varicella (if you have not already had chicken pox)
- Yellow fever* (Required if you travel in countries where it is endemic close to our departure date.)
Also note that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world’s population is infected with the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Incidence of tuberculosis is higher in developing countries, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. In general, approximately 10 percent of people infected with M. tuberculosis are at risk for developing active TB during their lifetimes. TB is considered highly treatable with medications that are of relatively low toxicity and cost. Participants returning from developing countries are encouraged to have a (PPD)-tuberculin skin-test to screen for potential infection.
Medical Conditions Special Concerns
Stamina, tolerance, physical fitness, and patience are required for this field school. Participants should also have good balance, vision, and a tolerance for humidity. If you have limited mobility, are quickly tired by or become out of breath with physical activity, and/or have any back, knee, foot or hip problems, please discuss your participation in this project with your physician. Participants with breathing problems are strongly encouraged to bring inhalers or other treatment medications with them, as these are unavailable in-country.
Given the remote location of the field site, participation is typically not recommended to anyone with any serious condition which may require immediate medical attention (e.g. heart conditions, kidney problems, life threatening allergies, etc.). Modern medical facilities in Madagascar are rare and very limited in the services they can provide. Complicated cases would probably require evacuation to another country, such as Reunion or South Africa. Participants with such conditions should discuss the risks with their doctors and carefully consider the risks of participation associated with the field school.
Exposure to allergens is likely. Even if you don’t have known allergies, you could react to something and should consider bringing an over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl/ diphenhydramine. If you have known allergies, consider the risks to yourself from possible daily exposure and bring appropriate medications. Make sure to note ANY allergies (e.g.: latex, mold, drugs, etc.) on your health form and inform the project staff.
Good mental and emotional health are also important for successful project participation! Being immersed in a new cultural environment and having limited access to cellular service and the internet may be difficult for those who struggle with their emotional health (e.g. depression). It is recommended that participants bring small reminders of home for comfort and take all prescription medications strictly as directed by your physician.
*Information presented here based on PIs personal experience, and data taken from CDC, WHO, and Stony Brook University sources
- Day 1: Depart USA
- Day 2: Arrive in Madagascar, In-country orientation and staff introductions
- Days 3-4: Sightseeing in Antananarivo (Museum or Art and Archaeology, Queen’s Palace, National Zoo, etc.)
- Day 5: Travel to Centre ValBio, Ranomafana National Park (RNP)
- Days 6-14: Ranomafana National Park (Research methods training, Exploring the rainforest, Meeting with National Park officials and local conservationists, cultural excursions, etc.)
- Day 15: Anja Private Reserve and cultural site visits
- Day 16: Travel to Toliara
- Day 17: Antsokay Arboretum and travel to Sarodrano
- Day 18: Explore the Sarodrano region (Coral reef, Mangrove swamp, etc.)
- Day 19: Travel to Ranohira
- Days 20-21: Isalo National Park
- Day 22: Return to the Centre ValBio
- Days 23-30: Ecological Monitoring Research Project in RNP
- Days 31-32: Travel to and explore Ambohimanga historic site
- Day 33: Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Day 34: Research Presentations at the University of Antananarivo
- Day 35: Depart Madagascar and Arrive USA
To begin the enrollment process, please complete the following three forms and email them to internationaled@pennwest.edu along with a copy of your passport.
Trip Costs
Students participating in the program are responsible for the following costs:
* Program fee: $3,725 (includes all program costs while in Madagascar)
* Round trip airfare: ~$2,800 (exact cost to be determined at time of booking)
* PennWest tuition and fees for 6 credits of off-campus instruction
* Incidentals: passport/visa fees, textbooks, personal equipment, spending money, travel insurance,
etc.
Contact Us
For more information about the Madagascar Field School, contact internationaled@pennwest.edu.
Past Trip Photos