TBI - Origins Field School
- Details and Cost
About the Program
This field school, offered during both Fall and Spring semesters, is designed for students with an interest in Africa, science, and the essence of what makes us human. The Turkana Basin region, made famous over the past five decades through the work of Richard, Meave and Louise Leakey, has produced much of the world's most important fossil and archaeological evidence for human evolution. Our program addresses the place that humans occupy in the natural world and how they came to occupy that place. It offers eighteen upper-division or graduate credits in geology, ecology, vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology, human evolution, archaeology and culture.
Location Turkwel, Kenya Program Type Faculty-Led Program Program Term Fall, Spring Program Dates Language of Instruction Budget View Budget Living Arrangements The Origins Semester Field School program is based at TBI’s Ileret and Turkwel campuses, built respectively on the east and west sides of beautiful Lake Turkana. Students live in comfortable, safe, dormitory-style quarters. Clean water, showers, flushing toilets and electricity are provided, as are mosquito nets, towels and bedding. Internet and cell phone service is available.
Meals served are fresh and varied, and very healthy. Vegetarian options are made available.
The Ileret campus is situated on the northeastern shore of Lake Turkana, and provides access to the fossil collection areas where Richard and Meave Leakey launched their groundbreaking hominin research in the 1960s and 70s. In this region live the pastoral Dassanatch people, often seen herding their goats around the lake, who are employed locally as lab technicians and essential camp staff.
The Turkwel campus is located southwest of the lake, overlooking the picturesque Turkwel River, and is a relatively short drive away from important fossil and archaeological sites such as Lothagam, South Turkwel, and Nariokotome, where the famous Turkana Boy skeleton was discovered. This is the land of the Turkana people, after whom the lake was named. Like the Dassanatch, they are seen regularly herding their camels nearby, and are indispensable around camp as skilled specialists and support staff.Additional Information Faculty-Led study abroad programs may require group travel. Please reach out to your IAP Coordinator prior to making any travel arrangements. Program Housing Statement: Stony Brook University is required to comply with the housing policies of the host country, partner institution and/or hotel/hostel. These policies may include requirements such as sex-based housing placement. Requirements
GPA Other Requirements Rutgers University, University College London and American University students are required to apply using this link.
The Turkana Basin Institute has developed partnerships with these institutions to provide their students unique experiences in Kenya. Please contact the Program Director for more details.Application Deadline Spring: November 1
Fall: July 1
Students are encouraged to apply early as applicants are accepted on a rolling basis.Student Feedback
“Take advantage of every opportunity you can through this program, the professors are amazing, the landscape and surrounding deposits are some of the best in the world” - Participant, Spring 2011 Semester
“Enjoy the delicious food, the lectures, movie nights, fossil hunting sessions and camping nights. The field school ends so soon.” - Participant, Fall 2016 Semester'
“Even if it's going to be really hot and intense, it will be one of the best and enlightening experiences in your life.” - Participant, Spring 2017 Semester
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