Tropical Ecology Research Experience

Milwaukee School Teachers in Panama

Tropical forests are charismatic ecosystems, and are ideal for capturing the imagination of school-age students. The incredibly high levels of diversity, the myriad of interesting life-history strategies, and the charismatic fauna and flora found in tropical forests can act as a hook to catch the interest and imagination of students who otherwise have few opportunities to view the world of science outside of their own urban environment.

This website is an ongoing project devoted to the teaching and learning of tropical ecology in the classroom. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and organized by Professor Stefan Schnitzer, the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Project, Tropical Ecology in Panama, gives teachers a research experience at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Barro Colorado Island in Panama. The RET project is followed by the expansion of an Environmental Science teaching module that is available on the Curriculum page

Read Program Overview for the story behind the research experience.