Achievement

We have developed a field course that creates a truly transformative experience for our IGERT students. The course is taught in two parts. In the first part, students receive an intensive three-week introduction to tropical field biology at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Here students are: 1) exposed to key aspects of tropical biology (past, present, and future); 2) introduced to a variety of tropical ecosystems, experimental sites and global partnerships; and 3) challenged with a mix of lectures and short field research projects. In living and working together during these three weeks, this field course will provide shared experiences and comradery that will strengthen ties among cohort members.