About Dr. Kyes
Dr. Kyes joined the University of
Washington (UW) in 1993 following a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wake
Forest University School of Medicine and completion of his PhD in
1989 from the University of Georgia. Dr. Kyes is a Research
Professor in the Department of Psychology and Adjunct Research
Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Anthropology. He
also is Founding Director of the university’s Center for Global
Field Study, and Core Scientist and Head of the Division of Global
Programs at the Washington National Primate Research Center. His
research focuses on field-based studies of nonhuman primates and
other wildlife in the areas of Conservation Biology and Global
Health, at the human-environment interface.
All of Dr. 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 Brazil and
Laos. These partnerships involve joint research and annual training
programs (“field course in conservation biology & global health”)
for local university students and professionals.
Dr. Kyes has worked in Indonesia for more than 25 years
collaborating with Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) and their
Primate Research Center (PSSP) as well as several other institutions
including, Sam Ratulangi Univ., Udayana Univ., Gadjah Mada Univ.,
and a number of government offices and NGOs. He and his colleagues
conduct annual field courses on Tinjil Island, Banten, Java (since
1990) and at the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi (since
1998) which have provided training for over 400 Indonesian
participants from more than 20 universities and organizations around
Indonesia.
In 1995, Dr. Kyes established the International Field Study
Program-Indonesia at the Univ. of Washington. This annual,
month-long study abroad program in Indonesia (in collaboration with
PSSP-IPB) 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 the U.S. have participated in this study abroad program. This
program recently 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 participation during the 2012 program.
