Biological Science

WINTER COURSES (Dec. 20, 2025-Jan. 9, 2026) – See http://www.itec-edu.org for details.
 
TROPICAL RAINFOREST AND CANOPY ECOLOGY (TRE W-25/26): This field course is designed to provide the student with a foundation in ecological concepts and field techniques as applied to tropical rainforest ecosystems.  The material covered is equivalent to a university upper level course in tropical ecology.  The course is divided into three parts.  During the first few days students will become familiar with the many ecosystems found in our area and with the trail systems during “orientation” walks.  The bulk of the first 10 days will be spent learning field techniques and carrying out various group projects or exercises (see below).  It is during this time period that students will learn to access the canopy using various rope techniques (Climbing Certification is available, please contact Tanner Frost for details).  During the second half of the course students work on their individual research projects and continue to receive lectures in the evening.

FIELD COURSE IN CORAL REEF ECOLOGY (CRE W-25/26): This course is designed to provide the student with a sound foundation in ecological concepts, techniques and experimental design in field research as applied to coral reef ecosystems. The material covered is equivalent to a university upper level course in coral reef field ecology. The course will begin with a global ecosystem perspective and then will progressively narrow to assess the way in which local reefs are influenced by both global and local phenomena. We will focus in depth on Caribbean reefs using the reef at Bocas del Toro as an example. We will provide a brief introduction to plate tectonics as a basis for understanding the production of substrate for reefs and their distribution in the biosphere.  In this context we will discuss several theories of the origins of reefs and characterize a general reef community. The major reef biota that form the character of reefs will be discussed in terms of their anatomy, physiology, ecological requirements, roles on the reef and overall impact. We will examine and discuss some controversial formulations of community structure such as the role of competition, stochastic vs deterministic models in reef organization, diversity/stability relationships and trophic dynamics. Sampling methodology will be discussed with regard to the peculiar demands of the reef setting and we will examine several experimental designs and sampling schemes with regard to their strengths and weaknesses as well as their theoretical bases.

COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla Colon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on a hill facing Almirante Bay and Volcan Baru on the mainland.  Coral reef and lowland tropical rainforest ecosystems are immediately accessible from the field station.  This juxtaposition of the two most biologically-diverse ecosystems along with Panama’s rich cultural diversity provides tremendous opportunities for education and research.  

Look for course available for academic credit; you will want to set it up as an independent study through your home institution. https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses

Now entering its fourth season, this immersive, field-intensive course offers a rare opportunity to learn and apply wildlife sampling techniques in several protected areas across Belize. Students will explore the importance of wildlife corridors and gain hands-on experience surveying birds, small mammals (including bats), primates, crocodiles, cave-dwelling insects, and tropical plant species. Participants will also learn to collect, process, and analyze meteorological data from caves and bat acoustic data from cave-adjacent surface environments. Fieldwork spans a stunning array of ecosystems including tropical pine savanna, cohune palm ridges, broad-leaf forests, and upland tropical forests. Instruction will be delivered by conservation biologists, naturalists, community leaders, and cultural experts, offering students with direct access to local knowledge and global conservation perspectives. This fast-paced, physically demanding course (aka Jungle Book Camp) is designed for those eager to challenge themselves while contributing to a multi-year research project. Students will traverse rugged backcountry terrain with 30–40 lb field packs for up to 5 miles (round trip), collect and analyze ecological data, and present their findings to the Belizean community—an experience that will not only build science communication skills but will also foster cross-cultural engagement and personal growth. For those passionate about conservation and ready to step outside of their comfort zone, this course is more than an academic experience, it’s a transformative journey of high adventure.

All course assignments will be oriented toward the documentation and distillation of lectures and fieldwork. This will include data collection and analysis, use of smartphone apps for plant and animal identification, photo-documentation, and other work as appropriate.

https://edabroad.nau.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=11156

This program is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Students not attending Northern Arizona University may also take this course for credit.
Application deadline: 16 FEB 2026

I am writing to ask and encourage you to share the following information with your colleagues and students about an amazing program offered at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College, Kachemak Bay Campus.  The Semester by the Bay Program is an Alaska, place-based experiential learning program in Homer, Alaska is an ideal place to study and explore Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Ecology.  We hope that all we offer (e.g. experiential learning, internships, incredible courses with world-renowned instructors, with access to one of the richest marine estuaries in the world) can work into your students’ academic program and goals.  Our Fall semester focuses on Marine Mammal Biology, while our spring semester focus is Conservation Ecology.

We are currently recruiting students and planning for the Fall 2026 semester.  

We will be offering a 16 credit Marine Mammal Biology Certificate program.  Classes offered are:
BIOL 325 Advanced Marine Skeletal Articulation (2CR)
BIOL 430 Marine Mammal Biology (3CR)
BIOL 432 Experiential Learning: Marine Mammal Biology (2CR)
BIOL 458 Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals (3CR)
BIOL 459 Experiential Learning: Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals (2CR)
BIOL 492A Undergraduate Seminar in Marine Mammal Conservation (1CR)
BIOL 495A Internship in the Biological Sciences (3CR)

We will also take applications for the Spring 2027 semester at this time.
Each Spring, we also offer a 17 credit transcripted certificate in Conservation Ecology.  Spring classes offered are:
BIOL 473 Conservation Biology (3CR)
BIOL 483 Exploration Ecology (2CR)
BIOL 484 Experiential Learning: Exploration Ecology Field Study (4CR)
BIOL 490 Global Climate Change (3CR)
ENGL/JRNL A278 Sharing Science Across Diverse Audiences, 2 credits (1 cr lecture, 1 cr lab)
BIOL 495A Internship in the Biological Sciences (3CR)

Each of these two separate semester packages of 16-17 credits includes an opportunity for students to both participate in an internship and conduct guided undergraduate research.  Some internships offer free or reduced housing and ALL students receive in-state tuition.

Completion of either semester’s hands-on, intensive program will earn a student a stand-alone degree called an Occupational Endorsement Certificate (see https://kpc.alaska.edu/academics/areas-of-study/occupational-endorsement-certificates/conservation-ecology-oec.cshtml  for Spring and https://kpc.alaska.edu/academics/areas-of-study/occupational-endorsement-certificates/marine-mammal-biology-oec.cshtml for Fall). We will work with students and their institutions to ensure course transferability in addition to earning these certificates
Please see our website for more information on internships and the SBB program
https://semesterbythebay.org/

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this email, and for your help in spreading the word about our programs.  Please direct students to our website at https://semesterbythebay.org/ or have them contact me directly at kjgoldman@alaska.edu if you have any questions.

• Shoals Marine Laboratory (Appledore Island, Maine), Cornell University & UNH
• Mountain Lake Biological Station, University of Virginia
• Highlands Biological Station, University of North Carolina
• Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Lab
• Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, University of Iowa
• University of Notre Dame Research Center (UNDERC), Michigan/Montana
• Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), Michigan State University
• University of Michigan Biological Station
• Boulder Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado
• Ecosystem Field Studies, Colorado (accr. by UMontana)
• Wild Rockies Field Institute
• Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana
• Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
• Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington
• Inside Passage Field Studies, Alaska
• Semester by the Bay, Alaska

• The GREEN Program
• Ecosystem Field Studies, Mexican Caribbean (accr. by UMontana)
• Seamester, Caribbean, Atlantic & Pacific voyages (accr. by Univ of South Florida)
• Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC)
• Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica & South Africa
• DANTA Association for Conservation of Tropics – Costa Rica
• Field Projects International
• Institute for Field Research
• Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences