Costa Rica Bio Lab | mckinnonlab

Costa Rica Bio Lab Study Abroad

I wanted to develop a Biology study abroad that as many students as possible would want to take--and could take. This led to our spring break-Costa Rica offering of Intro Bio Lab, Biology 1201, which we expect to cost about $2500 for flights, housing, meals, everything. Instead of weekly labs, the course takes place mainly over spring break in Costa Rica, and involves the collection of valuable data for research and conservation. Pedagogy expert Heather Vance-Chalcraft is my key collaborator, as well as PhD student Fiona Freeland.

Upper level students can participate through Biol 3504, grad students Biol 6994 (plus weekly lecture/discussion).

The first part of the trip is spent at La Selva, one of the best known and most influential field stations in tropical biology. There, students conduct bird surveys that contribute to long-term databases critical for conservation and research, as well as going on additional excursions, for example to a butterfly farm and on a night tour with station personnel.

Before we leave for Costa Rica though, we have a series of one hour meetings In January and February to learn bird and fish identification, confirm snorkeling skills, and generally get ready. We also complete online exercises to hone ID skills. 6994 students learn about leading study abroad courses.

The second part of the trip is spent in the coastal Caribbean town of Cahuita, which is home to a national park and some of the most accessible coral reefs in Costa Rica. There we conduct reef fish surveys, again for inclusion in long-term databases used for research and conservation, and if time permits, tour the park to see sloths, monkeys, and other wildlife.

Throughout, the course emphasizes living and working as a field biologist--which means trading off air-conditioning and sometimes hot water for fans, field sites and memorable adventures.

When we get back to ECU, 1201 and 3504 students work in groups to analyze the data they collected, then prepare write-ups about their findings.

6994 students develop research proposals that build on their experiences and new skills.

When we first offered the course in spring 2023, we were fortunate to be able to participate in two pick-up soccer games, one with other American students at La Selva and one with local students at Cahuita.

Draft (not final!) syllabus: 1201

Interested in getting involved in the 2026 course? Applications will open shortly through the ECU study abroad site! Please apply as soon as possible, certainly by Sep. 30 (closes formally ~Oct. 21 but will likely be filled by then). Remember, your spot is not guaranteed until your deposit is received. Contact Prof. Jeff McKinnon for information: mckinnonj@ecu.edu