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Organization for Tropical StudiesJune 2015

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In This Issue
New Strategic Plan
New Website
New T-shirt
Duke Agreement
Eco-Maletas
Science Communication
Graduate Courses
FLAG Reservations
Employment
Archives
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Board of Director's Publish 2015-2020 Strategic Plan   

  

Dear Friends of OTS,

 

We are pleased to announce that the Board of Directors passed the OTS Strategic Plan for 2015-2020.  As you'll see in the final draft linked below, the strategic plan challenges OTS to play a more proactive role in directing research and education within OTS' stations and programs.  

 

Over the next 5 years, OTS will (1) expand research on Emerging Challenges in Tropical Science at and around our field stations in Costa Rica and South Africa; (2) create innovative, research-based educational programs for an increasingly diverse audience; and (3) reduce the environmental impact of OTS facilities and programs.  During the next few months we will develop the metrics, targets, and work plans to ensure that we reach our new goals and initiatives.

 

A huge thanks to all of you that have contributed your efforts and input,  and especially to the Strategic Planning Task Force (Cesar Nufio, Julie Denslow, Susan Cordell, and Bill Michener).   

 

We look forward to sharing our progress with you.  

 

Sincerely,

 


Elizabeth Losos
Jim HamrickElizabeth C. Losos
Chair, OTS Board of DirectorsPresident and CEO
OTS 2015-202 Strategic Plan

Reminder - OTS' New Website Address & E-mails   

  

OTS' new website address is www.tropicalstudies.org. In conjunction with this change, all OTS staff members received new email addresses.

To look up a new email address, you can use this search tool:

http://tropicalstudies.org/clients/search_staff/search_staff.php

 

We are doing our best to move this process forward with as few errors as possible. However, a change this complex is expected to have a few glitches. If you experience any issues with the new site,  see a typo, broken link, or incorrect information, we want to know! Please email us at [email protected]. Thank you!

 

Winning T-Shirt!   

 

We are pleased to present the winning design for the next OTS T-shirt! Thank you to everyone who voted.     

The OTS membership t-shirt is available to OTS members in appreciation for their contribution of $50 or more.  The new t-shirt will be available in early July --  renew your membership and request your 2016 t-shirt today!

Board Renews Agreement with Duke University 

 

For over 30 years, OTS' North American Administrative offices have called Duke University home. When OTS was first welcomed on campus, OTS was a somewhat fledgling organization and the support and access to a dynamic and strong institution was critical to OTS' administrative functions. OTS has continued to flourish over the decades, so when the current agreement was up for review, it was clear from both sides that OTS' expansion now required a new agreement which reflected OTS' growth and complexities.   

 

After a year-long negotiation, the OTS board approved three new agreements with Duke University. The Facilities and Services Agreement secures a home for OTS' North American Headquarters on the campus of Duke University for the next 35 years. The Study Abroad Services and the Grants Services and Transition agreements, while shorter in length due to the nature of the programs, support the accreditation procedures of our Undergraduate programs and ability for OTS to apply for funding as a separate entity. Although the process was complicated, both sides are pleased with the outcome and look forward to continuing a long and mutually beneficial relationship.  

Eco-Maletas Program
 

On June 5, OTS' Eco Maletas program marked World Environment Day by delivering nine suitcases to selected schools in southern Costa Rica. The Eco-Maletas project, funded by HB Fuller and Banco Nacional,  is an environmental education program that provides classroom materials, lesson plans, and training for teachers and community leaders. Each Eco-Maleta contains a kit of educational materials and games on conservation and sustainability. The main learning concepts are intertwined with the aims of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP). The most important aspect of these kits are that all content is designed with a playful approach.

 

Telling Stories about Science: Science Communication In The Digital Age

 

July 21 - August 3, 2015
Hurry - Only a few spaces are still available!

 

This graduate specialty course, taught at La Selva,  will rely on a mixture of lectures, hands-on activities, and projects that put communication skills into immediate practicum. Students will learn basic reporting as well as tools for communicating in various media (video, podcasts, blogging, etc.), and will then go out into the forest and create their own stories.  

 

 

Available Graduate Courses
Open enrollment for all specialty courses
. Partial scholarships are available.

Course Name
Telling Stories About Science: Science communication in the digital age

This course will be taught at La Selva and will rely on a mixture of lectures, hands-on activities, and projects that put skills into immediate practicum. Students will learn basic reporting skills as well as tools for communicating in various media (video, podcasts, blogging, etc.), and will then go out into the field and create stories.
July 21 - August 3, 2015
Inquiry in Rainforests: an in-service program for teachers

Inquiry in Rainforests, an in-service program for teachers, is a 2-week program that aims to improve K-12 science teaching by helping teachers DO science - by conducting open-ended, inquiry-based research. Teachers also receive training in filming and producing videos for use in teaching. The course includes discussions of tropical ecosystems and conservation, research focused on organisms and ecological concepts, and development of teaching and assessment plans for use in home institutions. For the most current information available, please visit inquiryinrainforests.org.July 8 - 21, 2015
El presente curso complementa la formaci�n acad�mica con el desempe�o profesional interdisciplinario y transdisciplinario en el �rea de docencia, investigaci�n, acci�n social, y consultor�a p�blica y privada. Los estudiantes podr�n interactuar con comunidades locales, profesionales y especialistas nacionales e internacionales de diversos campos de las ciencias naturales e ingenier�as afines, interesados en la conservaci�n de la diversidad biol�gica. De igual manera, estudiar, comprender, conceptualizar y contextualizar los principios biol�gicos y ecol�gicos que brindan las investigaciones cient�ficas de un ecosistema determinado.
September 21 - October 13
NEW!
 

January & March 2016 are booking fast!
Faculty-Led Academic Groups  

The OTS academic logistics staff has assisted hundreds of faculty members throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Costa Rica enhance their course trips by arranging everything from hotel reservations, transportation, meals, day activities, and research permits.   With three full-service research stations in which to conduct field-training, a dedicated staff in San Jose, as well as at Las Cruces, La Selva, and Palo Verde, and decades of experience with our own courses traveling throughout Costa Rica, our logistics staff is perfectly suited to help faculty members create their own memorable courses.

 

Faculty members interested in visiting our stations during the next academic calendar year, 2015-2016, should contact us as soon as possible to take advantage of good rates and availability.         

 

Click here for more information or email Pablo Richard directly at [email protected].  

 


 
Employment Opportunities

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is seeking applicants for several
positions. Qualifications vary by position and application instructions can be found on our website.
External Notices

OTS includes external listings as a service to our community. If you would like to post an announcement or job opportunity here, please email us.
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