REU Site: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Tropical Biology in Costa Rica

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Abstract

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a consortium of more than 60 universities and research institutions, will offer an REU Sites program in tropical biology at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. This project will provide hands-on, field-oriented research experiences to undergraduate students from throughout the United States. The goals for this program are to: 1) encourage student interest in careers in field research and tropical ecology; 2) establish a clear understanding of all aspects of the scientific method; 3) introduce students to the importance of tropical ecosystems and facilitate a more complex understanding of ecology as a science; and 4) increase student awareness of the ethical context of research in the tropics. To address these goals, the OTS REU program will offer research fellowships to a significant number of undergraduates especially those coming from institutions where research opportunities are limited. OTS encourages application from students from underrepresented groups in the sciences. Specifically, the REU Program provides support for twelve undergraduates per year to have a ten-week research experience at La Selva, a research site located in a lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. Selected students will be paired with research mentors who will oversee the student's research project. Further information is available at http://www.ots.duke.edu/en/education/under_summer_reu.shtml.