International Exchange Program

Curator of primates Meredith Bastian and international exchange student Dr. Jati in front of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's orangutan habitat

The Global Health Program is committed to enhancing knowledge and scientific resources in developing nations. GHP trains professionals across a wide variety of wildlife and conservation disciplines at the human-wildlife interface in order to improve access to and engagement in modern One Health techniques.

This training opportunity brings international professionals to the United States to spend three to four weeks rotating through departments at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. This unique experience allows professionals from partner institutions around the world to shadow world-renowned wildlife clinicians, keepers and researchers.

Specific department scheduling and rotation varies based on the interest area of the participant and the needs of their home organization, but may include species-specific wildlife management, veterinary clinical care, pathology, nutrition, genetics and wildlife management.

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Case Study: Scenario Planning in Northwestern Virginia

Case Study: Land Use Modeling in Northwestern Virginia

Changing Landscapes Initiative
Smithsonian scientists work alongside community members in Northwestern Virginia to evaluate the impacts of land-use change on wildlife, ecosystem services and community health.

Coral Biobank Alliance
Smithsonian scientists are part of the Coral Biobank Alliance, a global network of coral experts preserving corals for restoration and research.

Coral Cryopreservation Training Course

Coral Species Cryopreserved with Global Collaborators​
View a list of the coral species that have been cryopreserved using a technique developed by Smithsonian scientists.

Wildebeest Conservation
Conservation Ecology Center scientists are tracking the movements of white-bearded wildebeest to understand how changes across the landscape impact the species.

Protecting Piping Plovers in the Great Lakes
In 2022, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center will begin a new research project to help protect endangered piping plovers from predation by merlins.

Swift Fox Recovery
Smithsonian scientists, in collaboration with the Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife Department, are embarking on a five-year swift fox reintroduction project to restore swift foxes to tribal lands and to help reestablish connectivity between disjointed swift fox populations.

Conserving the World’s Largest Working Wetland
Conservation Ecology Center researchers are collaborating with institutions in Brazil and other Smithsonian colleagues to support sustainable cattle ranching in the Pantanal wetland.