The first SFS-UWICE (The School for Field Studies- the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment) semester program came to an end with the students’ research symposium yesterday. A group of 21 undergraduate students from the United States of America (USA) have participated in the 3-month's semester program hosted jointly by UWICE and SFS to conduct an interdisciplinary field based course on Himalayan Environment and Society in Transition.

Students have carried out their research on forests, landuse change, natural resources and people's livelihood, and flora and fauna diversity under Bumthang dzongkhag.

The symposium was attended by UWICE faculty, various official from dzongkhag administration, Bumthang, regional offices, and local government.

SFS is an independent educational organization based in United States of America. SFS organizes field-based study courses for young students to develop environmentally literate citizens, and to promote and protect sustainability of the world’s natural resources. The SFS introduced its programme in Bhutan with the 6-weeks duration in 2010 and this is the first semester program successfully implemented in collaboration with UWICE.

The similar symposium will also be organized in Thimphu for the heads of various departments and agencies in the coming week.