Are you interested in participating in a Costa Rica Research trip and study opportunity this coming July???
Trip dates are July 25th to August 4th this summer. We will talk briefly with your students, before school, outlining the program the costs and research opportunities. There are a few options for meeting mornings, if you're interested please come to one of the following: Tuesday Oct. 16, Tuesday Oct. 23rd or Thursday Oct. 25, in room 1204. Please expect to be there for 15-20 minutes! We will also have a formal meeting in the evening late October (TBA soon). If your student is interested after coming to a morning meeting please come with your student to learn about this great opportunity! This meeting is TBA, please check back on this blog for an update!
So you are aware of some initial information: Cost for 10 days with travel, air and food is roughly $3300. However there are some scholarship opportunities available. There are 16 spots for participants. The program is in its third year at MHS and is coordinated through a non-profit corporation whose mission is “enhancing bioscience education for high school students and creating more careers in science.” The premise of the program is field research of Leaf Cutter Ants in the middle of the Costa Rican rain forest!
In addition students will be expected to complete an application packet with a 500 word essay [details provided in the packet handed out at the morning meeting] and a one paragraph teacher recommendation to Ms. Norton, Mr. Holmes or Mrs. Peterson by Fri, November 2 (or earlier).
Please check out the links below for more information as this is a wonderful opportunity for field research:
Daily blog while in Costa Rica
We are really excited to move forward with this exciting research and travel endeavor for our Minnetonka biology students, we would love to have you join us!
Minnetonka High School joins with Seeds of Change for their Costa Rican Science Research Experience. (CRSRE) was developed to help high school students become interested in careers in math and science.
The CRSRE trip will embark on a science driven experience to the Finca la Anita agri-tourism and research plantation two hours outside of Liberia, Costa Rica. While at the farm, students will study various topics including ecotourism, conservationism, organic farming and rain forest ecology. Most importantly, students will become involved in ongoing research on Leaf Cutter Ants that has been spearheaded by the University of Wisconsin under the direction of Dr. Cameron Currie. Students will be working on Dr. Currie's program with Dr. Adrian Pinto from the University of Costa Rica to learn more about the living environment of the ants as well as the benefits their living habits can have on the development of healthier antibiotics as well as other benefits the ants might teach us.
