BIOL 242 People and Plants of Thailand
The hills of Northern Thailand provide a home for many different ethnic peoples, who have for centuries lived in harmony with their environment. This interdisciplinary course offers a unique opportunity to learn from the villagers by staying with families in the villages. We will learn about their culture and beliefs from the spiritual leader and village elders, identify useful medicinal plants with the Shaman, make traditional crafts, perform tribal dances, collect food and other supplies from the forest, and help cultivate food crops. We, in turn, will teach the villagers about optimal nutrition; protein- and micronutrient-rich crops to grow on limited land; treatments for water pollution; and how to attain personal and village hygiene, to help them attain optimal growth and health in their environment.