Engineering in Bolivia
Director: Dr. William Strosnider
Explore (and serve!) the ancient homeland of the Inca with SFU’s Bolivian Research & Service program. Sail on the highest altitude navigable lake in the world (Lake Titicaca), serve the impoverished in the highest altitude city in the world, climb a famous extinct volcano at 16,000 ft, speak the language of the Inca, research the largest silver mine in the world, swim in thermal pools, wade with pink flamingoes, experience ancient cathedrals, and visit pre-Incan ruins. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime intense experience. Go for it! Apply ASAP because only 10 slots are available.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
You are required to take a total of 6 credits from the list below. Students will spend 6 days of preparatory class on SFU campus prior to the trip. Course material will be delivered on-site as important religious/cultural sites are toured and students work on research/service projects to improve much-needed water resources in the Bolivian Altiplano.
Courses (6 credits or more required):
- CHEM 501 Chemistry Research (3 crs)
- CORE 406 Keystone Seminar (3 crs)
- ENGR 497 Engineering Research (3 crs)
- ENVE 321 Environmental Engineering Measurements I (3 crs)
- ENVE 322 Environmental Engineering Measurements II (3 crs)
- ENVE 415 Environmental Engineering Senior Lab (3 crs)
- ENGR 497 Environmental Engineering Research (3 crs)
- EXPH 498 Exercise Physiology Research (3 crs)
- FNAR 101 Art in Pre-Columbian and Colonial Bolivia (1 cr)
HOUSING AND MEALS
Students will be housed at SFU campus during the preparatory period. While the group is in Bolivia, the whole group will stay together in hotels and hostals in La Paz and Potosí, Bolivia.
EXCURSIONS
We’ll first journey to the cradle of Andean civilization, Lake Titicaca, where we’ll explore pre-Incan and Incan ruins and sail, swim, and hike around this famous sacred lake. We’ll then tour the St. Francis Cathedral, museums and amazing natural wonders of La Paz. The class will then relocate to Southern Bolivia, where we’ll swim in thermal pools, visit red lakes inhabited by flamingoes, tour a silver mint, see geysers, and work on service and research projects to improve the water quality for impoverished Bolivians. We’ll also explore the largest silver deposit in the world, Cerro Rico de Potosi, with the option for the more adventurous of us to climb the extinct volcano’s 16,000 ft peak!
DATES AND COSTS
May 6-12: on-campus preparation
May 13-27: Bolivia
- May 13 Flight to La Paz
- May 14 Touring La Paz
- May 15-20 Service-learning-research in Potosí
- May 21-23 Southwest Bolivia Tour
- May 24-27 Touring Tiwanaku, Lake Titicaca, and return to USA
Program Fee: $1,480 (plus tuition costs)
- Application and $100 deposit due ASAP
- Deposit ($690) due March 15
- Remainder ($690) due April 15
Program fee includes:
- Transportation to and from airports
- Round-trip airfare
- Lodging
- Many excursions
- Travel/health insurance
- Visa fees
Not included: tuition, gifts, passport fees and most meals.