GEN Inquiry Meetup: How Does a Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica Foster Sustainability, Transform Lives, and Create Opportunities for Community College Students?
Presenters:
- Dr. Fabricio Camacho-Céspedes, Ph.D., Professor of Tropical Agroforestry Systems Professor at Universidad Técnica Nacional, Costa Rica; Executive Director at Agroforestry Engineering
- Dr. Jean Replicon, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Sciences at Mission College, CA
Mission College's Tropical Ecology Field Studies program has for decades been offering field study opportunities for students to travel to the rainforests of Costa Rica and gain hands-on experiences that transform lives.
Costa Rican researcher Dr. Fabricio Camacho-Céspedes and Bay Area biology professor Dr. Jean Replicon have been working in partnership to offer a rich program focused on field research and conservation that is uniquely open to community college students of all majors and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of the participants are sponsored and most would not otherwise have had this life-changing opportunity.
The presenters will share insights into the program’s long-standing success, which is sure to inspire similar opportunities at other institutions.