January 2003

From Duke University

Tropical Science for the 21st Century

E.O. Wilson and 'boot camps' to mark 40th anniversary of the Organization for Tropical Studies

March 30-April 5, 2003, Costa Rica

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), the perennial training organization for U.S. and Latin American tropical scientists, will host 200 plus scientists from throughout the world in three-day field-courses, banquet and one-day scientific symposium. The mix of hands-on learning, presentations by leading tropical researchers and educational functions will expand participants' views of tropical science, facilitate collaborations and help define education, research and conservation goals.

Tropical Biology (Rubber) Boot Camps, OTS Biological Stations, March 30 - April 2 Participants will get their boots dirty as they experience the biodiversity of the tropics and discover (or rediscover) how to conduct science in one of the most complex environments on earth.

Celebration Banquet, San Jos�, April 2

Scientific Symposium, University of Costa Rica, April 3 Edward O. Wilson, one of the founders of OTS and a preeminent biological theorist, will be the symposium keynote speaker. Wilson's accomplishments include pioneering work on chemical communication, he also edited Biodiversity, which introduced the term and launched worldwide attention to the subject. Two of his 21 books have been awarded Pulitzer prizes. Wilson has received 75 awards, including the U.S. National Medal of Science. Approximately 30 posters addressing current research or practical application of tropical science will be displayed during the Symposium.

    Symposium speakers:
    Edward O. Wilson (Harvard University) The Future of Tropical Biology
    Pedro Le�n (University of Costa Rica) Molecular Biology's Impact on Field Ecology
    Sally Horn (University of Tennessee) Understanding Historical Effects: Paleo-ecology of Costa Rica
    Harry Greene (Cornell University) Organismal Biology
    A. James Hicks (National Science Foundation) Promoting Diversity in the Sciences
    Deborah Clark (University of Missouri-St. Louis) Tropical Tree Demography and Global Change

The Organization for Tropical Studies is a non-profit consortium of 64 universities and research institutions from seven countries. OTS provides leadership in education, research and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. OTS conducts graduate and undergraduate education, facilitates research, participates in tropical forest conservation, maintains three biological stations in Costa Rica and conducts environmental education programs. More than 300 scientists from 25 countries work at the OTS biological stations in Costa Rica each year.



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