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Posted December 28, 2004

This update is to inform students, parents and others about our program, courses and students in light of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea which occurred during our term break.

On learning about the tsunami, our risk management and emergency response plan was activated, and in coordination with Kalamazoo College in the United States, we were able to locate and account for all remaining students in the area.

Two students were in Phuket at the time of the tsunami. They were on a boat going out to a snorkeling site, and the tsunami passed under the boat. We made contact with them in the hours following the tsunami, and they were able to leave the area on their scheduled flight two days later.

Courses

We have two (2) courses that are in the affected areas--Island Ecology (in the Tarutao and Adang Archipelago) and Coastal Resource Management (in Trang).

The Island Ecology course is scheduled to leave for the field on the 10th of January. In consultation with the local communities and government officials from the Tarutao National Marine Park, we have decided to go ahead with the course. The archipelago was somewhat sheltered from the impact of the tsunami, and there was no significant damage or fatalities in the park.

As on all courses, we will be carrying water purification systems on the course. In addition, fresh water is available from springs on the islands, so the risk of waterborne diseases are minimal. The diseases affecting other areas due to the tsunami are not a significant risk in the Adang Archipelago, due both to relative lack of impact there, as well as the water source and our ability to purify water.

The Coastal Resource Management course is scheduled for April. We will be visiting the course sites in advance of the course to determine the feasibility of running the course, and will be making any necessary adjustments to the course itinerary as necessary. As with all Expedition Field Courses, we design our courses in collaboration with local communities and NGOs, and we will be working with local communities on the design of the course. This will include service learning as a part of the course, so our students will have an opportunity to help local communities.

--The ISDSI Team