This program will provide young scholars with an exceptional study abroad experience at one of the world’s premier paleoanthropological sites: Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. The site was made famous by the excavations of Mary and Louis Leakey and is home to dozens of the most well-preserved early archaeological sites in the world. Students will have the unique opportunity to support, and participate in, an international project that is tracking the bio-behavioral evolution of our remote ancestors between 2 and 1 million years ago.

Olduvai Gorge lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area preserves a nearly continuous record of human evolution and climate change between 2 and 1 million years ago. To put it simply, there is no better place in all of Africa for those interested in this phase of human evolution. Since 2006, The Olduvai Paleoanthropology and Paleoecology Project (TOPPP) has carried out fieldwork in the area and, over the past nine years, scholars from all over the world have conducted cutting-edge research on ancient human biology, behavior, and environments. As participants in the field school, students will have the opportunity to be intimately involved in nearly every phase of this endeavor. The daily routine will involve half a day in the field conducting excavations and half a day back at the research station carrying out artifact curation and analysis. The sites to be excavated and the artifacts to be curated and analyzed will depend on that year's research foci.

While students receive training in basic paleoanthropological field and laboratory techniques they will also experience the rich cultures and diverse wildlife of one of Africa’s most beautiful countries. The specific responsibilities of students will depend on the field season’s research foci but, regardless of year, each student will gain experience in all aspects of field and lab research. Students will also attend weekly lectures describing the region’s prehistory, culture, and ecology. Four excursions are also planned: two paleoanthropological sites (Engaresero and Lake Ndutu), a visit to the local Masaai market, and a safari day within the Ngorongoro Crater.

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Field school's sexual harassment policy as submitted

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, wherever located (collectively, the “University”), is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. This policy prohibits specific forms of discriminatory behavior that violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulation (“Title IX”), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). This policy applies to Students who are registered or enrolled for credit- or non-credit-bearing coursework (“Students”); University employees, consisting of all full-time and part-time faculty, University Staff (including temps), professional research staff, and post-doctoral fellows (“Employees”); and contractors, vendors, visitors, guests or other third parties (“Third Parties”). This policy pertains to acts of Prohibited Conduct committed by or against Students, Employees and Third Parties when the conduct occurs: on University Grounds or other property owned or controlled by the University; or in the context of a University employment or education program or activity, including, but not limited to, University-sponsored study abroad, research, on-line, or internship programs; or outside the context of a University employment or education program or activity, but has continuing adverse effects on or creates a hostile environment for Students, Employees or Third Parties while on University Grounds or other property owned or controlled by the University or in any University employment or education program or activity.