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scienceAlso in this section:
Now isn't this a pleasant backdrop for your studies? Now THAT’S a nice campus photos and article by Joel Inwood The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) on Colon Island, Bocas del Toro, is beginning their summer C session. ITEC “is a non-profit education, research and conservation corporation, and operates the Bocas del Toro Biological Station,” according to their website. ITEC just signed a five year lease on their Bocas location, according to executive director Dr. Peter Lahanas. Several locals noted to this reporter that ITEC has made a point of obtaining goods and services from Panamanians, whenever possible, which, according to those spoken to, keeps them in good standing with Bocas residents.
One of the rules on campus is you can't eat the turtles or their eggs Bocas also has something very valuable to offer the Institute. “This collection of islands is sometimes referred to as the ‘Galapagos of Central America,’ […] because, after having been isolated for 10,000 years by geologic activity, each of the islands has evolved its own unique biota,” according to the web site. In addition to classes in subjects such as pre-Colombian archaeology or primate ecology, students have the opportunity to do research in either the tropical rain forest or coral reefs which sandwich the institute. Forests, marshes, swamps, streams, pastures, both high and low impact beaches, mangrove forests, turtle grass beds, estuaries, lakes, limestone caves, rocky intertidal areas all surround the institute. The institute also works in various conservation projects to improve the situations of everything from marine turtles to bats and their habitats.
There are certain universal aspects of dormitory life, but then these ones have their unique aspects Four-week summer sessions at ITEC cost $1,800. The three week winter session is $1,500. And there are two-week travel sessions available for $900. Since ITEC is not directly affiliated with a university, they can’t offer college course credit. Many schools, however, have programs that will allow them to work with institutions such as ITEC to provide credits.
If you come at the right time, you will encounter sea turtles nesting or hatching The ITEC mission is to:
“1) offer
quality field ecology courses to undergraduates and graduate
students, 3) operate programs for the conservation of sea turtles, rain forests and other natural resources along the Caribbean coast of Panama, 4) aid the local community by establishing educational programs and workshops on resource conservation, reforestation, pollution control and by providing alternative employment opportunities having minimal environmental impact.”
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