The Brazil LAB spring course “Amazonia, The Last Frontier: History, Culture, and Power” creatively transitioned to remote instruction after spring break due to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in the term, students had visited the Princeton University Library’s Special Collections to see several rare and unique items on the Amazon, thanks to the support of the University librarian Fernando Acosta-Rodríguez. Then, from off-site, they were able to access the materials digitally.

Taught by the LAB’s teaching fellow Miqueias Mugge, the seminar was offered by the Program Latin American Studies and cross-listed by the Environmental Studies Program, the Department of Anthropology, and the Department of Spanish & Portuguese. The course counted on the invaluable participation of Lilia M. Schwarcz, Professor of Anthropology at the University of São Paulo and Member of the Brazil LAB Advisory Board, and Maria Virgínia Amaral, a Brazilian anthropologist trained at the National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Mugge is currently working on a website to feature students’ creative final projects, such as podcasts, educational videos, and op-eds on deforestation impacts, environmental policies, and forestry management.

See Princeton University website story here.