Randall C Kyes, PhD: Celebrating 100

Randy Kyes and students in 2015

The Department of Psychology is not alone in celebrating 100. This coming July, Randy Kyes will conduct his 100th field course (“Field Course in Conservation Biology & Global Health”). This represents a significant milestone covering 25 years of annual field courses conducted in eight countries for in-country students and professionals, as well as for UW/U.S. students via his study abroad in Indonesia.

All of Prof. Kyes' research, teaching and service activities have a strong international focus. Since coming to the University of Washington, he has been responsible for helping to establish collaborative programs in a number of countries, including Indonesia, Nepal, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and India, with developing programs in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Brazil. These partnerships involve joint research, annual field training programs for local university students and professionals, and community outreach education programs for school children, K-12.

Although splitting his time among the program countries, Prof. Kyes has worked in Indonesia the longest (over 25 years) collaborating with Bogor Agricultural University and their Primate Research Center as well as a number of other institutions. In 1995, Prof. Kyes established the International Field Study Program-Indonesia at the Univ. of Washington. This annual, month-long study abroad program in Indonesia provides field-based educational and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from UW. The program is conducted on Tinijil Island in conjunction with the field course for Indonesian students thus allowing the students of both countries the opportunity for cultural exchange, language development, and future partnerships. To date, over 85 students from UW and other U.S. institutions have participated in this study abroad program. In 2012, this program received a grant as part of the US-Indonesia Partnership Program (USIPP) from the IIE/U.S. State Dept. to help promote U.S. student study in Indonesia.

Globally, Prof. Kyes and his international colleagues will soon have conducted 100 field courses in eight of the program countries for more than 1,700 participants. They also have provided over 135 outreach education programs in for more than 7,000 school children. Read more about the field study program in Monkeying Around in Remote Indonesia, UW Arts & Sciences Perspectives, University of Washington, September 2015.

Make a gift in honor of Dr. Randy Kyes' work here. Please note "DR.RANDY KYES" in the comments on the gift page.