OTS is pleased to announce that Dr. Pia Paaby has agreed to join the OTS team as the Education Director, based in Costa Rica.

Dr. Paaby has a  Ph.D. in Tropical Ecology and Limnology from the University of California-Davis, and her research has focused on tropical aquatic ecology and natural resource management. Dr. Paaby is not new to OTS and spent much of the first nine years of her career as an OTS instructor in Costa Rica in the graduate courses for Latin American and U.S. students as well as for undergraduate students, high school students in special classes (eg. TIP Program) and as the person responsible for the design and implementation of training courses for local naturalists in the Sarapiqui. In addition to this, she also participated in the university semester models in Costa Rica at the School for Field Studies (SFS) and the Friends World Program.

Dr. Paaby has a strong background in project evaluation and design of strategies for conservation of biodiversity. The geographic areas in which she has worked include Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia and Colombia. Recently, Dr. Paaby collaborated with The Nature Conservancy in the definition of a "Portfolio of Priority Sites for Conservation of Freshwater Biodiversity", as well as "Identifying Conservation Gaps" for the Costa Rican and Guatemalan administrative systems and the consolidation of a strategy to fill gaps in the conservation of continental biodiversity in Costa Rica.

Additionally, Dr. Paaby has collaborated in the development of methods to identify conservation gaps in marine and terrestrial systems in Costa Rica. Currently, a significant portion of her work focuses on the study of climate change, its impacts on water resources, freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity in general, and the analysis of potential adaptation measures which would permit national and local governments to sustain the expected level of development.

With great sadness, we recognize the untimely passing of cherished OTS alumnus, Marvin Morales, on January 26, 2012. Marvin enriched the lives of each person around him with a positive light, a passion for life and biology, and a distinctive smile.

Marvin, originally from Guatemala, came to OTS from Guilford University as a student in the 2008 Research Experience for

Undergraduates program. He worked closely with mentor Nicole Michel and coordinator Dr. Susan Letcher to complete a successful independent research project titled, "Microhabitat, microclimatic, and dietary preferences of the white-breasted wood-wren (Henicorhina leucosticta) at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica". He made friends with all of us at La Selva that summer, and was known for being a great soccer player and lively dancer.  After the program, Marvin completed his bachelor's degree, traveled extensively, and continued with studies in birds to begin doctoral work at the University of Florida-Gainesville in 2010. His research with Fork-tailed Flycatchers was part of an effort by the research collaboration group, Aves Internacionales, to understand bird migration across the Americas.

Photos courtesy of Susan Lecter

As noted by his mentor, Nicole Michel, "Marvin Morales was, truly, the best student, researcher, and just all-around person I ever had the opportunity - the privilege - to work with. He was so talented, so passionate about his work and life, and brought so much joy to those of us who had the pleasure to know him. I can't believe that such a bright light can burn out so fast. RIP, Marvin, and may your next journey be a good one." OTS extends our deepest condolences to his family for their loss. Marvin will be truly missed by all.

Ecología Tropical & Conservación is a six-week graduate level intensive field course coordinated by two specialists in Tropical Ecology, Alejandro Farji and Federico Chinchilla. The course also includes the participation of between fifteen and twenty invited professors representing different specialties. The course objectives include (1) training in the development, practical application and publishing of field research in tropical ecology, and (2) the application of tropical ecological research to conservation biology. The course dynamic allows for students to form hypotheses, design field problems, do field work, analyze results, and prepare both written and oral presentations of original field research carried out in different tropical life zones in Costa Rica. These short term field projects are led by faculty (group projects) and carried out individually by the students themselves (independent projects).

Orientation walk along the Cantarrana (frog singing) Trail at La Selva. Photo by Cecilia Tobar, of Ecuador.  Cecilia is a Masters student currently associated with the Instituto de Ecología in Veracruz, Mexico.

The current edition of this graduate course offered to Latin American students, Ecología Tropical y Conservación 2012-2, includes the participation of 22 students from 11 countries. The course began in Parrita, taking advantage of the relatively simple ecosystem of a palm plantation to carry out the first field projects. The course has also visited all three of the OTS field stations (Las Cruces, La Selva, and Palo Verde) and will finalize in Maritza, a biological field station located in one of Costa Rica's national parks. This final unit will include activities and discussions that center on conservation.

The next offering of this course will take place January 10 - February 19, 2013 and the deadline date for applications will be June 15, 2012. For more information, check the OTS website.

 
Undergraduate Applications for Summer Tropical Biology and Global Health Issues in South Africa are due March 1, 2012. Should there be openings after this date, late applicants will be considered.  

Fall 2012 courses applications are due April 1. Please contact Enrollment Management if you have any questions or are aware of an interested student at otsadmissions@duke.edu. We appreciate your assistance. 

On May 5, 2012 the Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Garden will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. In 1962, Robert and Catherine Wilson established the first collections of plants in what would be the Las Cruces Tropical Botanical Garden, whose initial aim was to offer for sale tropical plants, native and non-native of Costa Rica. Eventually, the Wilsons decided to sell the garden to the Organization for Tropical Studies for its administration and management. OTS purchased the property in 1975, annexing also some forested properties for the purpose of protection, research and training. In 1987, OTS recognized and dedicated the Garden to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson for the collection of plants they had established and for their contribution to horticulture. The collection of plants protected here is world renowned and the subject of study by a variety of visitors.  

Various commemorative activities are being planned to celebrate this important date for the garden, and the station is expecting the participation of many neighbors and friends.  

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