The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, Colombia, offers a semester exchange program for J.D. students. This program allows students to study at a leading research institution in Colombia, gaining international legal experience. The university, founded in 1970 as a branch of the older Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogota), is a Jesuit institution with a significant student body and a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Cali is a vibrant city located southwest of the capital, Bogota.
This program delves into the fundamental principles of population growth and regulation. You will explore mathematical models and ecological theories that describe how populations change in size over time, including concepts like the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) and the carrying capacity (K). The course examines the interplay between birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration in both closed and open populations. Key topics include exponential growth, the logistic equation, and the factors that influence population dynamics. You will learn how to estimate population growth rates using various methods, including those involving survivorship and fecundity schedules. The program also addresses the impact of demographic and environmental stochasticity on population fluctuations, particularly in small populations. Ultimately, this program provides a rigorous understanding of the biological and mathematical underpinnings of population dynamics, preparing students to analyze and predict population trends in diverse ecological contexts.