Back from Belize, Changed

Deven Gray (left) and Emily Clark (right) work with University of Belize students Monique Vernon (center) to update building information in San Ignacio.

“Back from Belize, Changed.”

This is the shared sentiment of ten University of Central Florida students who traveled to Belize this summer as a part of the UCF Geographic Information Systems’ Belize study abroad experience from May 30 – June 10, 2016.

UCF Citizen Science GIS is a collaborative, academic initiative that works in community-university partnerships to address the needs and desires of community groups, neighborhood institutions, and residents across the globe. This program was founded by Tim Hawthorne, Ph.D., of UCF Sociology in 2011 at his previous institution.  2016 was the first Citizen Science GIS study abroad trip at UCF.  The program has  given undergraduate and graduate students the chance to study abroad in Belize to respond to community development issues using spatial thinking and geographic methods.

Left to Right: Rhena South, Nicholas Altizer, Mandi Barringer, Betty Pierre, Deven Gray, Alexis Yohros, Briana Robinson, Emily Clarke, Taylor Hanus

For 12 days, students developed geographic skills through a series of learning activities and research projects with residents and organizations in Dangriga, Caye Caulker, San Ignacio, and South Water Caye, Belize. Using GIS and related geospatial technologies, students also engaged in collaborative fieldwork and research with Belizean partner organizations in an effort to develop a greater appreciation for key geographic and sociological issues in Central America.

Left to Right Nicholas Altizer, Dr. Timothy Hawthorne and Rhena South use their DJI Phantom 3 drone to capture video and imagery of South Water Caye and the Belize Coral Reef.

“This GIS study abroad trip has brought perspective to me in various ways,” said UCF sociology master’s student Alexis Yohros. “I have realized that people come from different backgrounds and experiences that shape who they are and how they perceive the world. Belize has provided perspective on what it’s like to collect and analyze data. I will never look at a map or data the same now.”

This course offers a minimum of 4 credit hours and is open to any undergraduate or graduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.5.  The course will be offered again in Summer A 2017.  Learn more about the course here.

UCF Sociology Citizen Science GIS Study Abroad Course in Belize Highlights, Summer A 2016 from Citizen Science GIS on Vimeo.