"I will argue that every scrap of biological diversity is priceless, to be learned and cherished, and never to be surrendered without a struggle."     Edward O. Wilson

"Biodiversity in all its forms can not be fully appreciated unless it is experienced firsthand at its extremes."

The purpose of this program is to immerse the participant, either a biology or environmental science/ecology major, or a high school pre-service and in-service science teacher, in the biodiversity of selected Costa Rican habitats using an experiential learning approach. The course will also focus on the conservation and research programs of selected tropical rainforest ecosystems, and the plight of endangered sea turtles species.

Special emphasis will be placed on how humans have impacted the biodiversity of the environments studied, and their sustainability. As an indirect benefit the student will also experience the biogeography, culture, politics, economics, and history of this region.

In her quest to explore and educate others about the biodiversity, biocomplexity, and need for preservation of our world biomes,
Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin, Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State University (Lehigh Valley), will lead this field course expedition in which participants can earn undergraduate or graduate credits, or high school teachers can gain professional development as educators of environmental science and ecology.*

*This course, sponsored by both Penn State Lehigh Valley and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), is one part of an ongoing professional development program, CHANCE. This course will be covering and evaluating all of the nine areas within the Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology Education set forth by the PDE (K-12).