Belize Field Research
Rural Sociology 497A: Central American Field Research
The Monkey River Project 2005
Since 2004, Penn State undergraduate and graduate students have conducted applied research and service learning projects in a remote coastal village in Southern Belize, Central America. In 2005, sixteen Penn State students conducted three projects in women's leadership, ecotourism and intergrated pest management in Monkey River Village. The students were part of Rural Sociology 497A (Central American Field Research) and spent their Spring Break in Belize conducting the field research. Outcomes of the project were: a strategic marketing plan for the Monkey River Tour Guide Association; an integrated pest management assessment of farming operations in the Monkey River watershed, and a qualitative research article on the women of Monkey River Village to be presented at the Beijing +10 International Conference on Women being held at the Penn Stater in May, 2006. In addition to the research project, students cooperatively planned an "International Women's Day" celebration in the village that featured local women speakers, music and games for the children. The celebration was held on the last day the students were in the village.
More information on the project can be found at http://cedev.aers.psu.edu/MRWeb
