Field Courses give students unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the study of organisms and biological processes in natural habitats. These are classes that allow students to live among and breathe in the very topics that they are studying!
Occasionally, field courses on other topics in Biology are offered. To check on the availability of such courses, please contact Amy O'Campo at 970.248.1993.
Tropical Field Biology (BIOL 407 & BIOL 507)
Next Offering: Please contact the instructor.
Instructor: Dr. Tom Walla
BIOL 407 is a 5-credit, 3-week course is offered every year in Ecuador. Once students arrive in Ecuador, they are accompanied by Dr. Walla and a handful of guides to several remote tropical habitats. These include the lowland rainforest, the cloud forest, and the paramo. Depending upon the availability, students may also travel to the Galapagos Islands. As students learn the natural histories of the organisms that are found in each area, they also learn how to establish and test hypotheses. Group and independent projects enable students to hone their skills in the process of science. Journaling and oral presentations allow students to communicate their thoughts and their findings to their instructors and peers. This course can also be taken at the graduate level (BIOL 507).
For more information on the undergraduate or graduate-level sections of this course, please e-mail or call Dr. Tom Walla at 970.248.1146.