Overview
Info Sessions:
- Tuesday, October 28, 8:00pm ET, Virtual (Zoom Link)
- Wednesday, November 12, 10:00am ET, Uris Hall G08 (Zoom Option)
Are you curious about how mental health, culture, and global health connect to real-world policy challenges? Do you want to learn through hands-on field research and community engagement in one of the most beautiful and biodiverse regions of South India? This program offers an interdisciplinary experience in global health and policy, where students explore how culture, environment, and community shape well-being in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
What is unique about this program?
Since 2014, Cornell–Keystone Nilgiris Field Learning Program has brought together students from Cornell and around the US to explore how culture, community, and policy shape health and well-being in South India’s Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. This five-week summer course combines classroom learning, hands-on fieldwork, and community partnerships to create a transformative interdisciplinary experience.
- Engage in field research on mental health, community wellness, and healthcare systems in resource-limited settings.
- Collaborate with community-member students, indigenous leaders, and local health professionals in Kotagiri and Chennai.
- Learn from Cornell faculty and experts in anthropology, global health, and policy.
- Contribute to community-engaged research that supports real-world health equity and sustainable development.
Faculty Director
Andrew Willford, Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences
William Lodge, Assistant Professor, Brooks School of Public Policy
*Some program information questions in 'Application Preview' below may not be applicable to this program. Course background will be asked if relevant to that particular summer or winter program.
