costa rica blog tropical ecology

I am very exited about the course and traveling to Costa Rica to experience the wildlife in the rain forest. The other day I watching Animal Planet and they had an episode about the jaguars in Costa Rica it was very interesting. So I am wondering If we are going to come across these beautiful but dangerous animals.

Nicholas Oliver

Hello again! 

We've been on a bit of a hiatus, but I'm thrilled that Tropical Ecology is back on for 2013.  We depart in a little over a week, which means it's time for both the stress and excitement to start building.  I'll be remaining for a few weeks after the course to do some research, so there's a solid month of travel to prep for. 

A bit of a change in personnel this year too... there's a new group of students, of course.  They seem like a really great bunch of people, I'm looking forward to getting to know everybody a little better and share some of my experiences.  But this is also the first time I'm running the course without co-coordinator Susan Letcher, who has settled into a well-deserved professorin' gig at SUNY's Purchase College.  It definitely won't' be the same without her, and it's no exaggeration to say that this course would have never gotten off the ground in the first place without her.  On the other hand, I'm thrilled to be working with Alex Gilman instead.  Much like Susan, I know Alex well from my own time living in Costa Rica.  She's a terrific scientist and will certainly be a great person to travel around with.

Stay tuned for further updates as we go!


Dennis Wasko
30 May 2013

(no subject)

Wow. Did you read about the invasion of the cicada’s in the Northeast!? After 17 years they are back again to mate and be loud and buzzing. If you live in the NE especially New York and New Jersey, be careful because if you step on these bugs, you will hear a gross crunchy sound. I hope we don’t see them in Costa Rica, and I wonder what happens if we do. That would be cool, but frightening.

-Michelle Drayer

(no subject)

 

 

Hey, I read today that a Volcano in Costa Rica was spewing a lot of ash and gas. Some residents and their animals had to leave their homes. I wonder if we will get to see this volcano on our trip.

 

Michelle Drayer