For the third year in a row, two University of Guam students were chosen to participate in the Native American and Pacific Islander Research Experience (NAPIRE) summer program in Costa Rica funded by the National Science Foundation. Biology majors Robert Ady and Chris Rosario submitted their applications to the program with 11 other students from Guam in February and are happy that they will be representing UOG at Las Cruces Biological Station this summer.

Robert, a biology/secondary education major was inspired by Dr. Wendy Townsend’s talk during her Guam visit last February. With her longtime interest in Latin American ecosystems, Wendy is passionate about her work as the coordinator for the NAPIRE program and her enthusiasm caught Robert’s attention. “I am continually in awe of the world’s biological complexity, which evokes a deep need in me to want to understand God’s creation. As a future science teacher I want to be able to motivate my students. The opportunity to fulfill my own interest in ecological research and work closely with a mentor in Costa Rica will have a positive affect on my overall confidence in the classroom,” says Ady.

Biology major and veterinarian technician Rosario is interested in the NAPIRE summer program as a means to explore the possibilities of a career in ecological research. “Although I am very interested in animal behavior and veterinary science, I am also drawn to field ecology in tropical systems. This summer internship will be an important factor in helping me decide whether to become a vet or make a change in my career focus,” says Rosario.

Rosario and Ady are excited by the possibilities of designing their own research experiments in collaboration with a mentor, living and breathing the scientific method for two months and meeting and learning about other indigenous peoples, including the other 16 students participating in the program. They will also have the opportunity to interact with indigenous groups of the region, allowing a first-hand look at the role of Native Peoples in tropical forest conservation.

UOG, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center scientist Ross Miller will be spending his third summer with the program as a mentor. An entomologist and avid birder, Miller looks forward to more time in the diversity-rich jungles and mountains of Central America. “I am delighted that UOG students continue to apply and be accepted into the program. It is an excellent opportunity for aspiring scientists to work closely with mentors who are experts in their respective fields,” says Miller.

Both Rosario and Ady are grateful to their professors, Drs. Camacho, Miller and Lobban for their guidance and assistance during the application process and Dr. Camacho's continued help in preparing for the trip.

The Organization for Tropical Studies and the NAPIRE program are supported by the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program (LSAMP, National Science Foundation). For more information, please visit www.ots.ac.cr/.