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Travel to Mongolia, the “Land of Blue Sky.”

The birthplace of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in human history, Mongolia is now a vibrant democracy and home to an open wilderness that has few parallels in the modern world. We will explore the great steppes, and especially engage in the conservation story of two key steppe species: Pallas’ cats and Przewalski’s horse. Pallas’ cats are important steppe predators whose conservation provides insights into the challenges facing the survival of small wild cats worldwide. Przewalski’s horse, also called takhi, are considered to be the only true wild horse left in the world. We will join research on an ambitious reintroduction project based in Mongolia that has returned this remarkable species to its former homeland after being driven to extinction in the wild. Possible research projects include studies of the populations, home range, and conservation of Pallas’ cats and Przewalski’s horse; participatory media and conservation knowledge; and community-based research. Discover the power of inquiry to generate knowledge and inspire conservation.

A typical day on this EE course includes exploration and a good amount of hiking in the local environment, instructor and student-led discussions of key course topics, presentations, engagement with local community experts, and time for inquiry investigations and journal writing. Prior to and following the field experience in Mongolia, students will complete coursework via Canvas, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University's learning management system, as they apply experiences at home.

*** If you're interested in Mongolia: Steppe Ecology & Civic Media for Summer 2026, . This option is ideal for anyone needing Continuing Education Units or additional graduate credits, those with previous Master's experiences, or Dragonfly alums. We offer a limited number of spots (up to 6) for non-Master's candidates in most of our EE courses. An undergraduate degree is required. *** (Note: This is not the form to apply for this course; please see our Apply webpage for details. Current Dragonfly students submit a separate course request for sent via email).

Central Mongolia is a vast, wild landscape of rolling green steppe and stony mountains, far-reaching valleys, sturdy horses, short grass aromatic with sage, and hospitable nomads living in traditional round gers.

The Mongolian steppe is part of the Eurasian steppes, a vast belt of grassland extending from eastern Europe through western and central Asia to northeast Asia. A temperate biome, steppes are found in the central regions of continents, far from the sea.

Mongolia is an invigorating place to visit and, with the world’s lowest population density and enormous swathes of virgin landscape, one of the best wilderness destinations in Asia.

Ulaanbaatar

The capitol of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is located in the Tuul river valley in central Mongolia.

Pallas Cat Research Site

This is the primary research site for the Pallas’ Cat Conservation Project. The Pallas’ cat, Otocolobus manul, is a predator specialized to live in the steppe and mountainous regions of central Asia. Its greatest populations are found in Mongolia. A thick coat of shaggy fur and a long, bushy tail help combat the extreme temperatures of the steppe. The elusive Pallas’ cat is difficult to observe in the wild due to its excellent camouflage, its surprisingly large home ranges, and its scarcity. An ongoing study in Mongolia, supported by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG), is using radio telemetry to measure range sizes of wild Pallas’ cats.

Research at the CZBG’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife and the National Zoological Park established that Pallas’ cats have a pronounced reproductive seasonality controlled by light exposure and that newborns are extremely susceptible to infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma. Improved reproductive and disease management based on these findings has enabled the captive population to grow and stabilize.

Students will get the rare chance to participate in research conducted by the Pallas Cat Conservation Project (PCCP) by visiting a remote grassland camp location and staying on site with active field researchers. Students will join research rotations, learning about the ecological and cultural richness of the region. Students will sleep in sleeping bags (bring your own) on the floor in gers, the traditional circular homes of Mongolian nomads. All basic amenities are provided, including clean water for basic needs, such as drinking, washing hands and face, or a quick shower, and outhouse-style toilets.

Hustai National Park

Hustai National Park, located approximately 100 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar, was chosen as an optimal location for the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horse (takhi). Between 1992 and 2000, a total of 84 takhi from zoos around the world were released in Hustai. The wild horses have flourished; now more than 190 freely roam the park along with red deer, wild boar, white-tailed gazelles, wolves, lynx, marmots, and long-tailed hamsters. The park is also home to 172 species of birds such as the steppe eagle, great bustard, demoiselle crane, and cinereous vulture.

(Course locations are subject to change.)

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