Amazonian Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine 

This interdisciplinary course offers students an in-depth introduction to the plant-based foundations of traditional Amazonian medicine and the ecological knowledge that sustains it. With a focus on medicinal plants and the ecological relations that support them, students will explore how Indigenous communities in Peru understand and use the forest as a source of healing. Through botanical fieldwork, ethnobotanical documentation, and excursions into both mid-altitude and lowland Amazonian habitats, students will study the ecology, identification, and cultural significance of key plant species used in traditional remedies. The course also critically examines the scientific, ethical, and sociopolitical contexts in which this knowledge exists, including its intersections with global biomedical paradigms. By integrating natural sciences and cultural inquiry, students will gain insight into the complex relationships between biodiversity, health, and cultural survival in one of the world’s most important biocultural landscapes. 

Syllabus coming soon!