Welcome to Intelligentsia International, Inc.

Intelligentsia International, Inc. (III) offers its visitors an opportunity to experience the environmental, technical, social and recreational diversity of Florida. In addition to eco-tourism and educational programs, participants are also given an opportunity to help bring positive change to the USA. Intelligentsia is a regional leader in promoting new approaches to environmental, water, energy and community activism, as practiced in rural southwest Florida. The Intelligentsia participant teams are a real force in transforming the USA. These unique experiences help prepare students and young professionals for meaningful careers in other parts of the world.

Intelligentsia activities are very diverse. After browsing our information web site, don't hesitate to contact us if our programs interest you. You may apply online to our Florida program.

Intelligentsia offers a wide range of activities:

Research projects with University of Florida.

Water Quality Programs

Intelligentsia, in cooperation with Southern DataStream and University of Florida, allows visitors to join in special eco-tourism and educational tours programs combined with practical training in southwest Florida farmlands and native areas. Students and young professionals coming here from all over the world receive experience in many technical fields and develop theirs skills in preparation for their future careers. More...

Water quality sampling on Florida ranches.

Energy Technology & Climate Change Policy

Intelligentsia promotes energy policies to reduce greenhouse gases and climate change, maintaining a web site on carbon capture and sequestration topics. Dr. Capece advocates these technologies to be adopted in designing a new electric power plant, proposed for construction near LaBelle. III visitors have participated among other tasks in rallies opposing pollution from this coal plant. More...

Intelligentsia's web page on climate changes. Students create technical reports for this site.

Presidential candidate John Edwards & Dr. Capece speak at a rally on climate changes.

Web site for clean water projects in Central Asia, Africa & other developing areas.

International Development and Humanitarian Service

Intelligentsia in cooperation with dozens of Rotary International service clubs, CARE International and SilkRoad Science & Engineering has initiated a development project in Central Asia and West Africa to address problems of unsafe drinking water supplies, improper sanitation and insufficient human resources training there, while also raising awarness in local communities about these serious issues of developing world. More...

III directors Sabina Dzalaeva & Michal Fidler at water project site.

Riverwatch website created by Intelligentsia.

Environmental Advocacy

Intelligentsia designed and maintains web site, databases and other technology tools of Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association - Riverwatch. Trainees also created documentary videos on ecological and political issues associated with water pollution, algal blooms and ecological destruction of the river and its estuary. Intelligentsia also publishes the CRCA Newsletter and organizes various fundraising events for Riverwatch. More...

III visitors during a river cruise.

PLUS website maintained by Intelligentsia.

Water Treatment and Utilities

Intelligentsia director, Dr. John Capece, helps to manage planning for the Port LaBelle Utility System (PLUS) of Hendry and Glades Counties. This includes the Citizen Advisory Committee, the PLUS web site and current infrastructure projects – a new water treatment plant, transmission line, and water service network for 15,000 home sites. A former Intelligentsia trainee, Moctar Siddo from Niger, served for 2 years as the PLUS engineer, employed by Hendry County, until he went on to a new job building utility systems in Africa. More...

III trainees visiting a water treatment facility.

Hydraulic and Ecological Restoration

Intelligentsia works with Southern DataStream on restoration projects for oxbows (old river sections) along the Caloosahatchee River. Trainees help with channel and construction designs, computer flow modeling and public education aspects of these unique restorations. More..

Caloosahatchee oxbow BEFORE restoration.

Caloosahatchee oxbow AFTER restoration.

LaBelle Nature park website.

Community Service and Recreation

Community-minded groups and individuals have joined together to improve public access and usage of the LaBelle Nature Park. LaBelle Rotary Club has presented these ideas to County Recreation Board and got an approval to implement needed improvements to the park. Intelligentsia created associated web site and also actively participate in various assignments related to this community project. More...

Design of proposed kayak trail.