[BACK] The Ecosistmas Amazonicos course operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) returned to Madre Selva for a fourth year in June 2005. Twenty-two students from across Latin America participated in the Spanish language course which focused on how to plan and carry out rigorous field research projects. Latin American student participants came from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Puerto Rico, with an additional student all the way from India! Faculty and staff for the portion of the course conducted at the Madre Selva station came from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Quite the international crowd!

Students engaged in a wide range of research activities, from faculty-led group projects to student-designed and implemented projects (individual and small group). Students collected field data, analyzed it, and made PowerPoint presentations of their results to their peers. Some projects lasted a single day, others were carried out over several days. With the wide range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats at Madre Selva, projects ranged from looking a fish morphology in different aquatic habitats, to the influence of fruit and flower color on pollination and frugivory by birds.

It wasn't all field work, presentations, and writing of reports however. Students had time to enjoy the riverboat trip from Iquitos to the Madre Selva Biological Station, visit the local Yagua Indian community of Comandancia, play in the river and yes, even have a party or two! They were a great group of students - enthusiastic, eager to learn, and fun to have at the field station. The professors, course coordinators, and OTS personnel who worked hard to make the course a success deserve a big hand. The students also worked hard to be able to attend the course - less than 20% of applicants for the course were accepted, and successful applicants made a considerable financial investment in the course as well. Needless to say they were all determined to get everything possible out of the experience.

The Spanish-language course is of incredible importance to young scientists in Latin America and the Amazon. It gives them the opportunity to network with other young professionals from their own and other countries, trains them to do rigorous scientific work, and opens doors of opportunity. These young biologists will be the guardians of the Amazon and of other natural wonders and ecosystems in Latin America in the very near future. They deserve our support and admiration. Project Amazonas is incredibly pleased to be able to host the OTS courses, and dedicated to supporting research activities by Latin American students, particularly those from Peru - your support of student is an important investment in the future of the Amazon.

For more information on education activities from Project Amazonas visit our Education page

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