SFS Study Abroad: Patagonia Climate Studies in Chile
SFS Study Abroad: Patagonia Climate Studies in Chile
- Chile
- Patagonia
About Program
Have you ever wanted to hike among the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia, see penguin colonies up close, or explore stunning labyrinthine fjords?
Our programs in Chile take place across the contrasting landscapes of Patagonia, from jagged peaks, massive glaciers, and narrow fjords to expansive grasslands and the lush temperate rainforests growing at the base of the Andes. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, tourism impacts, and sustainable livelihoods. The fragile ecosystems of southern Chile and Argentina are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – unpredictable storms, glacial melt, shifting temperatures, fires, and droughts. Our research in Patagonia examines ecology and geologic systems, how conservation decisions are made in the region, and species found nowhere else on the planet.
Program Highlights
- Map glacier termini in Torres del Paine with GPS transects and paired satellite images, tracking seasonal retreat patterns for climate and water resource analysis.
- Census Magellanic and king penguins in Tierra del Fuego, recording clutch size, disturbance zones, and banded individual sightings.
- Examine the economic and environmental policies of Chile, and how they have been influenced by the visible and dramatic impacts of climate change in the Patagonian region.
- Evaluate tensions between fjord conservation zones and salmon aquaculture livelihoods through mapped sites, ecological data, and local testimonies.
- Conduct Directed Research: frame a stakeholder-driven question, collect and analyze field data with faculty guidance, and present actionable findings to local partners.
Video and Photos
Popular Programs
Students conduct fieldwork across vast icefields, open skies, and coastal systems where seabird populations reflect changing marine dynamics. Glaciers, forests, and coasts become field texts, showing that conservation is not a triumph preserved, but a struggle to safeguard Patagonia’s living landscapes, where students also celebrate thriving penguin colonies, resilient forests, and the awe of wilderness largely intact.
With June comes the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, a significant period of the year for both ecology and society. Join SFS Chile in the rugged landscape of Southern Patagonia, at 51 degrees S latitude, for a deeply interdisciplinary exploration of how ecology and society intertwine to usher in the new season.
