End of the Expedition

 If I had to describe this study abroad trip in one word... it would have to be "insane". We hiked to the summit of an active volcano, explored the rainforest, snorkeled some coral reefs, walked along the edge of the Panama canal and wandered around two different countries with people we barely knew. No one even tried to kill us! It was three weeks packed full of learning, science, hard work and having fun.

I learned a lot on this trip so picking only three things could be tough. I learned that the Central American Isthmus completely formed about 25 million years ago... or 3 million depending on whether you believe the geologists or the biologists. I learned that the Montezuma Oropendola has a really awesome bird call. Finally, I learned to appreciate what other countries and regions can have that are unique to the rest of the world. I tried a lot of different foods and beverages that I had never even heard of before traveling to Panama and Costa Rica like Arroz con Pina.


This study abroad trip has been an amazing experience and something that I am extremely glad that I pursued when I heard it mentioned in Spring class. Professors Herzfeld and Judkins did a fabulous job of making the class run smoothly and work together to create a complete idea of how the world works from magma to monkeys. I have learned a lot, had some really great experiences and have gotten to know some really cool people. We are now working on finishing up the course with the post test, presentation and final research paper. The one instant that I wish we would move in geological time...

Rob Cuba

Class of BGPG 2012

Final Post- Erin Walters

It is crazy to think that we are back already from our 3 week journey! It is something when I can say that those three weeks were probably the most challenging and rewarding moments of my young 21 years of life. The experience and opportunity that I was immersed in was incredible, and everything that I have learned and am still taking away is what feeds my fire for more experiences like this one. This trip has done nothing but inspire me more to be a biologist and travel the world and study its immense bounty.

I cannot be more thankful for being chosen to attend this extraordinary experience, so Dr. Judkins and Dr. Herzfeld thank you so much!! And I must say you guys did a fine job of picking out individuals to get along for 3 weeks together in tight quarters! We had some pretty awesome times together and I think we grew into this little happy family J Not only have I taken away an experience and tons of knowledge, but I’ve also gained some close friends, ones who will most certainly never be forgotten! I can’t imagine our trip with anyone else! And by the end of this, I will have a research paper out, with my name on it!! I haven’t even graduated yet; clearly this trip has allowed opportunity that most students don’t receive until after graduation if ever. BGPG 2012- it’s been REAL!!!

Jamison - final post

The one word that sums up this trip would have to be extraordinary!!! I have learned many things on this trip. For instance the examination of strata can give you a detailed history of the land such as water flow, vegetation and major events such as volcanic eruptions. 

Also that soil nutrient is much higher in newer secondary succession areas than in areas of old growth. This is due to the fact that the soil nutrient that comes from things such as leaf litter and animal/plant death is almost immediately decomposed and reabsorbed by plants, insects, etc. which in turn does not allow for the organic layer to get more than a few centimeters deep in the rainforests. 

 

Sloths are capable of swimming considerable distances. When we were at Bocas del Toro we saw quite a few sloths most of which were the three toed. This was interesting to me since we were on an island that was a few miles away from the main land. Dr. J and I bounced a few ideas back and forth such as they could have floated in on a broken tree, the human factor and even possibly an avian predator dropping them. Dr. J later was informed by a couple of local scientist that the sloths had in fact swam to the island!!

This experience has definitely lived up to and even exceeded my expectations that I had in the beginning. From the sheer exhilaration of being on the top of a volcano to the brink of delirium from being in a packed van for hours. I will never forget the amazing group of people I traveled with and how they made the many hours spent in the van seem shorter and even fun.  I will also remember all the beautiful places we visited and the awesome people we met (Macho and Luewis).

Final post for Aaron

We're back! We've had three weeks of adventure, learning, and fun and it almost seems surreal being back. This trip has been one of the most exciting and educational experiences of my life; there really is no one word I can use to describe it properly, but I'll try anyway.. eye-opening. I saw so much in our short time there but so little in comparison to all there is to see.

The academic portion of this course has been more than I could have ever hoped for. I got experience in planning, creating an experimental design....reworking the experimental design, sampling, and analyzing data. For the region itself, we learned about the biological and geologic history and how interconnected they are. For instance, the closure of the gap (via the creation of the Panama isthmus) had significant effects not only on the marine environment, but also on the continental exchange of species between North and South America. In addition to learning a lot in our lectures, field talks, and research, I also got a crash course in local culture. We learned all kinds of new phrases and words and got to try many new types of food, including my favorite, chicheme, which is very interesting drink/shake made with corn, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.

This has definitely been one of the most entertaining and rewarding experiences of my life. It was the perfect combination of education, field work, and fun and if asked again, I would go in a heartbeat. I would like to thank Dr. Herzfeld and Dr. Judkins for not only the opportunity to go on this trip, but also the continued support, advice, and mentoring they've given every day since.

Till next time,

-aaron

Final Post For JJ

Alright... we are home and  I have to say it was quite a trip. I am thankful that I was chosen to participate in this unique study abroad course. This course was the perfect chance for me to get an idea of how field research is conducted and some possible places, such as The La Selva Biological Station and the many Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute locations, that can help me conduct research projects in the future.

 I knew that that we would be seeing, doing and learning amazing things but what surprised me the most was how well all the personalities of our group meshed together. All of the positive mental attitude made all of our experiences that much better. Who would want to summit a volcano with a bunch of grumps? Not me!  So... thanks to Dr.Herzfeld and Dr. Judkins for setting up this course and thanks to the crew for being easygoing and making the best of every opportunity!

Trip of a Lifetime

The only word for me that can begin to describe this trip would be extraordinary. The opportunities to experience the culture and natural wonders of Panama and Costa Rica that were afforded to the lucky 14 of us on this trip are things that some people never get the chance to do in a lifetime. In a three week period we ventured through a wide range of habitats, from active volcanoes to tropical rainforests and coral reefs. We hiked to the summit of an active volcano, saw two oceans, watched a leatherback turtle lay her nest, ate delicious local food and much more. Overall, this trip has pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and resulted in much growth, not only as a scientist but as a person as well.

This trip was 21 straight days of learning, being immersed in the field of science. So, to pick only three things I learned is a rather difficult task but I will focus on the main topics. First, I learned that plants are a lot more difficult to identify than you think. There is an entire vocabulary dedicated to the structure, texture and scent of plants. Is a plant pinnate or palmate? Is it a compound leaf or a simple leaf? What technically defines a leaf? All questions that Kelly and I had to ask and learn along our journey. It gave me a great appreciation for the botany field and actually has made me want to take a class! The next thing I learned was the formation of Panama and how it acts as a land bridge between North and South America, allowing for the exchange of plants and animals. Panama was originally a peninsula that was created by volcanic activity as the Cocos plate was being subducted under the Caribbean plate.     When Panama and Costa Rica merged together, forming an isthmus, there was a buckling and a stretching of Panama which allowed for the formation of the canal. The final topic I learned a lot about on this trip was the formation of coral reefs and their different zones as well as the types of organisms that inhabit each of these zones. For example, hard, sturdy corals, like brain coral, inhabit the reef face and buttress zone because they can withstand the high wave action. Or, soft, delicate corals like sea fans and staghorn coral that  are found in lower energy zones like the lagoon and flat top sections. Oh, and perhaps the most important thing I learned... science isn't perfect and researching make mistakes all the time. What is important is to learn from the errors and utilize all of the resources that are available to you.

In closing, I have learned so much from this trip. It is hard to even put into words the experience, and I am sure it will take months for me to truly understand the impact this trip had on me as a student and fledgling scientist. Thank you for the opportunity Dr. J and Dr. H! BGPG 2012!

Pura Vida,
Karleigh

Final Thoughts by Kelly O'Connell

Growth

This trip was been a once in a lifetime experience for me. Its difficult to understand the world in all of its entity without traveling it. There is so much that the world has to offer and I do not feel like I would be getting a complete education without the opportunity to travel.  It does not matter where I am in my life right now as long as I have an idea of where I can go. I feel as if I have that direction that I was searching for. The reason that I wanted to go on this trip is so I would be able to completely understand myself and where I want to go next with my education and knowledge of the world. I think this course confirmed my desire to travel, explore, learn, and share. We are all capable of making a significant impact of the world whether it be in the scientific field or even just by self-promotion. I am happy to have been part of a group that could share interests and successfully grow in knowledge together. I have learned so much throughout college but this experience really helped me realize why it all is so important. I have been learning the scientific method my entire life. However, these past few weeks was the first time I feel as if I really understood it. Taking an idea about a project and applying it to "real-life" research and problems is inspiring. The entire process has been enlightening. I am now learning how math and statistics actually apply to science. I also opened my eyes to a world of different cultures. Meeting people and striving to understand life as they know it is one of the greatest learning experiences in itself. I know that there is a place for me in the scientific world and have grown to never limit myself getting there.