The Amazon in the Modern World

The Amazon in the Modern World Image

This July, eight George Mason University students joined New Century College’s German Perilla on an Amazonian adventure, studying the basic principles of sustainable beekeeping and community development. The class spent two weeks in two very different rural communities in the Peruvian Amazon. In addition to demonstrating sustainable beekeeping methods and explaining how such practices could positively impact the communities, students also pursued their own individual research projects. 

The course titled “The Amazon in the Modern World” (EVPP 505 and NCLC 498) brought both undergraduate and graduate students together and challenged them to use the community driven development model to promote beekeeping as a tool for economic development and to discover how their individual research projects could help communities attain additional goals. For example, one student studied the environmental impact of sustainable beekeeping, while another researched the entrepreneurial aspects of marketing and selling bee-related products. Other students researched the educational, social and health implications of beekeeping in a community.

As part of the course, Perilla matched each student with specific community leaders engaged in activities related to the student’s research interests. For one entire week, the students shadowed their partner, assisting with routine functions and special projects planned by his or her partner.

Perilla said, “I was very glad to see the partnerships blossom and the students truly embrace their opportunity to work with and learn from the local experts. Each partnership was different and each was successful. I’m gratified to hear students already talking about returning to the communities next year.”