Panama Environmental Science Lab

Study Environmental Science in Panama Over Spring Break

Program Overview

In this exciting program, students will travel to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Marine Laboratory near Colon, Panama for a 9-day program of environmental science.  Course curriculum will be adapted to this special site, which offers an amazing mix of human impacts on mangrove forests and coral reefs, along with traditional environmental problems, such as water quality, air quality, handling of wastewater, municipal solid waste disposal, land use conflicts, transportation problems, over-extraction of resources, high-density human populations, and poverty.

Other locations will include a day trip to the Smithsonian-operated Barro Colorado Natural Monument—a research island in the middle of the Panama Canal, and a visit to the San Blas Archipelago, which is controlled by the indigenous Kuna Yala tribe.

Students will gain real-world, eye-opening experience engaging environmental problems in a developing country. Students from Madison College will interact with local officials, researchers, fishermen, indigenous people and other citizens as well as with students from Universidad de Panama, who will be joining the course.  The Smithsonian Institution will provide language interpreters during the program.

Course Information:

Students will earn Madison College credit for an Environmental Science Field Lab. This education abroad program fulfills the lab portion for Environmental Science (course 20-806-286).  All student contact hours for the laboratory component of the course will occur during spring break.  The lecture portion of the course may be completed either face-to-face, or online, during spring semester 2012.

Environmental Science is a 4-credit, introductory college transfer course that satisfies the biological lab science requirement for university transfer.  This 4-credit course is offered at the introductory level; anyone interested can apply.

Cost

The program fee for this program in 2012 is $1,400, which includes:

• All lodging
• Most meals
• Panama airport pickup and all local ground transportation
• All boat charters
• Smithsonian Institute Instruction and Interpretation Services
• Entrance Fees to National Park and Kuna Yala
• Domestic round-trip airfare between Panama City and San Blas Archipelago
• San Blas excursion

Additional Costs Include:

• Round-trip airfare from Madison to Panama City (final cost dependent on number of participants –currently estimated at $800)
• Madison College tuition (4 cr/Collegiate Transfer)
• Passport (if you do not yet have one)
• Personal spending money

To Apply

The deadline for applications was January 3, 2012. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (new dates listed fall of 2012). All materials, including the initial deposit of $500, must be received by 4:00 p.m. in the Center for International Education by the deadline date. (NOTE: Unless an applicant is rejected, the $500 deposit is non-refundable.)

For More Information

Call the Center for International Education (608) 246-6201, or email studyabroad[at] matcmadison [dot] edu