Maximiliano Bitar ‘18, a freshman at Lehigh University, just returned from a study abroad experience in Ecuador. His program, Lehigh Launch, joined with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) to make this unique program, invested in scientific exploration, possible. One of the most geographically diverse countries in the world, Ecuador offers endless opportunities for students, conservationists, and researchers alike.
Based in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, Maxi took classes and embarked on excursions engaging in field work in the Amazon, specifically Tiputini, and the bio-diverse Galapagos. In Tipituni, Maxi studied the native flora and fauna found at the world renowned Tiputini Biodiversity Station.
Maxi recently visited upper division students at St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s to share his experiences. A highlight for Maxi was swimming with sharks and scuba diving in the Galapagos. He dove amongst the coral reefs, fish, and even a shipwreck, harboring its own ecosystem. Another highlight included experiencing the extraordinary cloud forests of the Andes which can extend in elevation up to about 12,000 feet. Maxi explained to the class that these unique forests exist because when water vapor from the Amazon hits the Andes, it rises and cools, causing clouds that perpetually envelop the mountains, giving the feeling of being in a cloud. He also shared that these forests are home to a number of endemic species and also home to the greatest number of the world's orchids, which thrive in these perfect conditions.
During his fieldwork, Maxi observed and studied a number of animals he had been studying in his classes, including sea lions and seals. Being able to experience their activities and engage with them in real life was an outstanding opportunity for first-hand research not found in the classroom.