About the program

As humanity adapts to crises of climate change, habitat loss and emerging infectious diseases, nowhere have changes been more acute nor responses more dynamic than in equatorial Africa. In this program, we’ll explore humanity’s longstanding links to climatic and environmental change in the heart of the East African Rift System: a geological record-keeper of past environments and the animals and plants who inhabited them. From the Mount Kenya region, to the famous Turkana Basin, you will combine classical field research with new molecular and computational tools to study ecology, climate, community health and evolutionary change.

The program will investigate African climatic, ecological and paleontological sciences from two world-class field research centers: Mpala Research Centre close to Mount Kenya, and Turkana Basin Institute campuses in Kenya’s fossil-rich Lake Turkana region. You will learn field, lab and computer science-based methods through lectures, daily field trips and collaborative research projects. You will visit famous sites of natural beauty and archaeological significance, while learning Kiswahili and engaging with local researchers and communities.

The East African Rift System is a region of particular interest not only because of contemporary climate change, but also because the human lineage — including Homo sapiens — evolved in Africa.

Program & Tuition Fees

The current details on the program and tuition fees are accessible on Harvard University’s website.

Additional Costs

You will also need to budget for a number of expenses not covered by the program fee. The amounts listed below for these out-of-pocket expenses are approximate, and you may incur additional expenses not noted here. Your actual expenses will depend on a number of factors, including personal spending habits and currency exchange rates. Note that expense categories–especially airfare–may be subject to significant fluctuations.

• International airfare ($1,800 – $2,000)
• Ground transportation ($150)
• Meals ($150)
• Personal expenditures, communications, course materials, visa fee, and miscellaneous ($1150)

If you have specific questions about personal budgeting, please contact the program directly.