As part of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) MSc Earth Sciences we run the course “Field Course Geoecological Systems”. In 2026 we returned to the village of Miraflores in the Lima province of Peru. Partnering with the Institiuto de Montanya (Mountain Institute) in Lima students spent four weeks engaged in participatory research with the Miraflores community. The integration of students within the community was made possible by the work of Mirella Gallardo and Rafa Schmitt.
In this year’s iteration of the course, we had groups of students working on four different topics: (i) water quality, (ii) soil carbon stocks, (iii) microbes and carbon in agricultural soils, and (iv) cultural heritage. The topics of the project were established in advance in consultation of the Mountain Institute and refined during a Town Hall meeting with the Miraflores residents during the first days of the visit.
Through the four weeks of the field work students learnt how to classify soil types, monitor water quality, and read the landscapes geology and geomorphology. Traversing the rugged Andean landscape from our base at c. 3600 meters above sea level up to peaks above 4000 meters. The students also worked with the Miraflores residents to discover their perception and knowledge of the landscape. Following the visits students conducted further analysis of water and soils back in the laboratories at the UvA. Once this work is complete all results will be compiled into a report, in English and Spanish, that will be distributed to participants.
This is the third time this field course has visited Miraflores and this year we were proud to present fliers detailing the key finds of previous years investigation to the community. We would like to thank the community of Miraflores for their continued kind welcome and partnership, and the Yauyos-Cochas National Park for their permission and support to work within this area.
Want to join us for a future expedition? Click here to check out our degree program here to enrol.
Read about past field courses in Peru:
Ecology of the past 