Subject: Concern Spawns Educational Opportunity in Costa Rica

From: [email-masked] (T. Jesse Fox)
Date: 21 Apr 1996 19:34:44 GMT

Growing Concern Over Rain Forest Spawns Educational Opportunity in Costa 
Rica

English Speaking Undergraduates Encouraged to Participate

Houston/San Jose - As of summer of 96, The University of Costa Rica is 
offering a special section of their bioenvironmental science courses 
uniquely designed to suit the needs of English speaking students.  This 
“Rain Forest Adventure” provides an opportunity that meets the academic 
science requirements of the vast majority of undergraduate students in the 
United States and throughout the world who wish to acquire a basic yet 
comprehensive understanding of tropical rain forests.  

	There are many programs offered by the universities of the world’s 
developed nations which maintain exemplary standards of rain forest study. 
 The irony is that the previous generations of the developed nations have 
destroyed most of their old growth areas rich in biodiversity.  Without 
exposure to biologically diverse ecology most students do not acquire the 
predilection to undertake nor the dedication to fulfill the arduous and 
burdensome course of study 

required for a meaningful positive influence on rain forest ecology.

	For these reasons World Class Adventures in Education has launched 
an effort to market this new ecology program, taught in English, at the 
University of Costa Rica by professors who have earned their Ph.D. from 
American universities.  This enterprise will recruit English speaking 
undergraduate students to participate in a program designed to take 
advantage of the pristine national park system and congenial social 
climate of Costa Rica.

	This three month semester course of study will include Tropical 
Ecology (4 hours), Natural History of Costa Rica (4 hours), Biological 
Diversity \ Conservation (4 hours) and Spanish (4 hours). Students at most 
major universities receive full credit in the US for all courses taken at 
the University of Costa Rica.  Together with an extensive calendar of 
field study events, this program will provide students with a broad, hands 
on perspective of the rain forest and an
incredible tropical adventure.

	Costa Rica has 12 zones, ranging from tidal mangroves to 
sub-alpine paramó,  high above the timberline.  Each of the zones is 
distinctive with diverse natural vegetation and ecosystems.  The 
surrounding environment, makes this internationally acclaimed and 
accredited university uniquely qualified to provide the finest level of 
instruction in this academic field.  Access to Costa Rica’s full

spectrum of biodiversity, together with the university’s high standard of 
instruction, will provide English speaking students with an unprecedented 
opportunity to fully understand the nature of the world’s most 
biologically diverse ecosystems.

	Rain forests are being destroyed.  Very few people have the 
expertise to
evaluate, monitor and systematically catalog what remains.  We must study 
it.  If 
it is lost, shouldn’t we at least know what has been lost and the 
importance of that
loss so that we will have the incentive to save what is left?  To the 
extent that it cannot be saved it must at least be understood.

	Saving the rain forest is an exceedingly involved and complicated 
process.  It involves strategic planing of incentives and motivation.  
What needs to be done?  What is the motivation for doing it?  The 
catastrophic effect, of the loss of biodiversity, on the future of human 
existence is the primary motivation.  However, convincing a sufficient 
number of people that the effects are indeed
catastrophic is a challenge that has yet to be met.  There has been an 
effort to give whole populations a basic feeling of loss.  There has been 
an effort to develop eco-tourism to generate the financial incentive for 
countries to set aside rain forest park land.  There has even been an 
effort to buy a small portions of the rain forest thereby staying the 
destruction.  The need that has not been met is the development of a hands 
on, educational structure where large groups of students 
                                                     
can learn the issues and obstacles of this global concern.  This is rain 
forest’s best hope.  Young men and women with the motivation, tools and 
experience will now be able to develop proposals and execute initiatives 
that safeguard our biodiversity.  There may be no easy answers.  However, 
if an answer exists, these fresh young minds considering these facts and 
issues present the greatest opportunity of finding one.  

		Applications for admission are available on request.  The 
current total program cost is $6,200.  This includes all University of 
Costa Rica tuition , fees and matriculation, books and supplies, Round 
trip Airfare from Houston Intercontinental Airport or equivalent place of 
departure, private room with breakfast and dinner with a Costa Rican 
family, extensive calendar of field trips.
Undergraduate students interested in participating should contact:
World Class Adventures in Education
1300 Post Oak Blvd Suite 1750
Houston, Texas 77056
Phone: 713-961-3836
E-mail: [email-masked]
http://www.neosoft.com/~worldc/learn.html