Science Students Expand Their Horizons with Costa Rica Trip

For twenty Penn State science students and three faculty members, the break between fall and spring semesters included sixteen days of humid weather, many different climates, and exotic wildlife. These science majors and faculty members stepped out of their typical classroom laboratories and flew to Costa Rica from December 27, 2009 to January 10, 2010 as part of Biology 499A, Tropical Field Ecology. It is an embedded course that includes sixteen intense days of experiments and studying in different climates of Costa Rica.

“The altitudinal range of Costa Rica goes from sea level to 14,000 feet, and we take our students over a large chunk of that. Ecology changes radically when you do that,” said James Marden, professor of biology who has been taking students on this trip for seventeen years. Marden said he had wanted to take students to Costa Rica after he fell in love with it as an undergraduate. “There is a very strong conservation ethic there,” he said. "Since the land is so well preserved, it is ideal for studying."

Andrew Shoemaker, a senior biology major, embraced the educational trip since it was the first time he has left the United States. “For me, it was neat just to see the different types of rain forests I’ll probably never get to see that again,” he said. Dr. Marden and his students get to be real biologists while soaking in another culture. “Anytime you get out of the country, then you really get to experience the way ordinary people live,” Dr. Marden said, “It teaches students a new way to travel with simple, rustic accommodations and little hot water.”

Learning about a new culture was especially a highlight for Andrew. He said there was one local Costa Rican professor, Eduardo, who had a particular impact on him. Andrew said Eduardo has a motto of ‘live life to the fullest.’

“Eduardo inspired me personally and everyone that worked with him to enjoy and take in every part of the trip just because it was so beautiful down there,” Andrew said.

In fact, Andrew’s most memorable experience was when Eduardo encouraged all the Penn State students to jump into a freezing cold stream to have fun and live in the moment. Andrew said, “He wanted us just to take it all in and experience the area.”

Dr. Marden and his students conduct a wide variety of biology experiments in the different climates of Costa Rica. Some of the experiments include studying plants, mammal tracking, birds, bats, snails and barnacles, and intertidal invertebrates. “I think the greatest kick for me is that I get to show a group of students every year beautiful wild places and get them doing biology in it,” Dr. Marden said. “It’s really stimulating and motivating.”

Although much of the time was spent experimenting and researching, the Penn Staters got relax and explore Costa Rica in their free time. They hiked many miles to see animals and wildlife including birds and monkeys, took trips to see an active volcano, and visited Corcovado National Park where they went snorkeling and swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

Andrew said the most surprising part of the trip to Costa Rica was how green and exotic the tropical vegetation was. “There is nothing in the United States that even compares to the vegetation down there,” he said, “It was so different and large under the canopy and above the undergrowth.”

For more information about the course, contact Dr. James Marden at jhm10@psu.edu or 863-1384.