Please post this announcement on your website.
We still have spaces for the upcoming Primate Behavior and Ecology Course
taught in Costa Rica this summer.
Summer 2011: June 9th July 9th, 2011
(http://treefieldstudies.wordpress.com/courses/)
Course Instructor: Dr. Lorna Joachim
This month-long course is designed to teach undergraduate and graduate students the basic skills necessary to study
primate behavior in the wild. Throughout this course you will learn techniques in ecological and behavioral data
collection and complete an independent study on one of three primate species native to the area (Ateles geoffroyi, the
black handed spider monkey; Cebus capucinus, the white-faced capuchin; Alouatta palliata, the mantled howler
monkey).While our course cost may be a bit higher than some similar field courses we take pride in the fact that our
students have the advantage of doing work in two forests, learn Spanish, take a few fun field trips and help educate
local students.
This course will take place at two field sites. The first three weeks will be held at El Zota Biological Station, an
inland tropical wet forest site comprised of primary, secondary and regenerating forest. The last week will be held at
Tortuguero, a fragmented coastal lowland tropical forest comprised of riverine, palm and secondary forest areas
surrounded by the the canals of Rio Tortuguero and the Atlantic Ocean.
To encourage cooperation and collaboration with local Costa Rican scholars and students, a Spanish language instructor
will be on hand for Spanish lessons during the course. Participation in lessons is expected from all students.
In addition, we believe the generosity of the Costa Rican people should be rewarded for allowing us to work and visit
their country; therefore a portion of the course fee will cover the high school fees of local Costa Rican students.
The cost for high school is $150 dollars a year for a student in Costa Rica; however, many simply cannot afford this
rate. Our hope is that this connection will foster a relationship between the field school and local students,
encouraging them to work towards conservation in their own community.
Finally, we take a number of fun side trips in Costa Rica; which are hugely popular and a lot of fun. We have taken
students to visit cloud forests and coffee/chocolate plantations, white water rafting, zip-lining, sea-turtle
watching, and snorkeling.
Space is limited so contact us soon!
Course Fee: $2700 USD, excluding airfare and tuition at your university (if
taking for credit)
For more detailed information please contact [email protected] or
[email protected] 505-710-4007
Dr. Lorna Joachim
Adjunct Prof. of Research in Psychology
University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology
[email protected]
