“Participatory Science: Exploring the Peruvian Amazon” with Patricia Goudvis

Patricia Goudvis will share her experiences volunteering with Earthwatch near the headwaters of the Amazon River in Peru this past November. Earthwatch is a non-profit that “connects people with scientists worldwide to conduct environmental research.” The volunteers spent 8 days surveying aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal wildlife, including pink and grey freshwater river dolphins; many different species of shorebirds as well as parakeets, parrots and macaws; various monkeys and other rainforest mammals; bats, frogs, caiman, piranhas and more. The research is part of a long-term study in the region tracking the impact of climate change (floods and droughts) on wildlife populations, as well as helping assess the sustainability of the hunting and fishing by local communities. The goal is to support conservation strategies that protect the rainforest and the people who rely on its resources. Step out of dry Colorado for an hour into the hot, humid and amazing water-filled landscape of one of the great rivers and rainforests of the world.