Final Impressions from SFS Panama
Wow! Those 3 months went by way too fast. Since arriving, my expectations for my experiences have only been exceeded exponentially. Not only has my Spanish speaking seen serious improvement through interactions with the local people, my eyes are now wide open to the complexity of the cultural and social dynamics throughout the archipelago. Being [...]
A Day in Directed Research
Name: Steven Whitfield, Ph.D. Position: Resident Lecturer in Natural Resource Management Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama We set off in the morning for a remote corner of Isla Bastimentos, a 45-minute boat ride from our home on Isla Solarte. The sun is warm, but the ocean air keeps us cool. We pass [...]
Leatherback Turtle Nesting in Playa Bluff Municipal Reserve: A Success Story of Community-Based Conservation
Name: Marta Calosso, M.A., M.S. Position: Program Manager & Resident Co-Lecturer Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama On Saturday night we had a once in a lifetime experience, witnessing animal behavior that has not changed much for literally millions of years. We took the students to Playa Bluff Municipal Reserve, on Isla Colón [...]
Extra Dimension of Learning
Name: Nikola Alexandre School: Vassar College Major: Environmental Studies Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama Classes are done. Grades are in. Our regular schedules are over. One week into Directed Research, and everyone is already heavily immersed in their projects. We split our initial group into three smaller ones, lining up to work [...]
Socioeconomic Research in Panama
Name: Nathan Freedman School: University of Connecticut Major: Engineering Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama This past week marked the start of our Directed Research projects, one of which entails a socioeconomic study on human-environment interactions of two indigenous Ngöbe populations in Bocas del Toro—one here on Isla Solarte, and the other in [...]
What is Your Role in the Story of Consumption?
Name: Arika Virapongse, Ph.D. Position: Resident Lecturer in Environmental Policy & Socioeconomic Values Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama In one of my earliest classes for Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values, we discussed the evolution of sustainability science. To apply the concepts of this class, we visited households of Ngobe indigenous people on [...]
Interdisciplinary Learning in Panama
Name: John Claydon, Ph.D. Position: Program Director and Resident Lecturer Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama The archipelago of Bocas del Toro is such a fascinating place biologically, historically, culturally and socially. As you approach Isla Colón by plane you can see the wealth of natural environments laid out beneath you. Then the [...]
Hiking in Salt Creek, Isla Bastimentos
Name: Emma Hedley School: Hamilton College Major: Geology Program: Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies, Panama After a rainy Tuesday morning, the sun came out just in time for our trip into the surrounding Bocas del Toro area. We headed to Isla Bastimentos to visit the indigenous Salt Creek Ngobe community. This is a community [...]
A Day in the Field
Name: Haley Kearns School: Elizabethtown College Major: Environmental Science Program: Tropical Island & Biodiversity Studies, Panama This Thursday we were introduced to the Ngobe people, an indigenous group found on our island as well as all over Latin America. On our walk to their village, we were told that we should act cautious and shy [...]
First Impressions of SFS Panama
Flying into the Bocas del Toro Province was truly breathtaking. I had never seen such lush green forest islands adjacent to beautiful turquoise water. After a week my excitement has only grown as the history of the region and incredible biodiversity were unveiled through interactions with the local people and the incredible staff. I’m sure [...]
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