Study Marine Life Around the World
Every other summer, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology offers a Tropical Marine Biology course in Panama. The University of Oregon also has a large study abroad program, Global Education Oregon, with many opportunities for marine biology students.
Marine biology majors cannot substitute a study abroad term for one of the three terms of study at OIMB, unless they participate in the summer term Tropical Marine Biology-Panama program. The six credits for this program count toward the 12-credit minimum for summer term.
Tropical Marine Biology-Panama Program
The Tropical Marine Biology-Panama program is a seven-credit course in biology with 400-level credit. The program consists of a one-credit course in spring (BI405) and a two-part summer term course (one-credit, eight-week planning the research project and five-credit, two weeks of on-site academic instruction and fieldwork in Panama). OIMB Faculty Richard Emlet and Maya Watts are the instructors for the program.
BI405 Reading (1 credit P/NP)
During spring term, students explore primary and secondary literature on the habitats and environmental issues that will be seen in Panama. Students make presentations on their readings and participate in weekly discussions. Students will be required to develop a bibliography of material useful for their subsequent experience in Panama. Residency at OIMB is not required to participate. Evaluation will be based on completion of the assignments and participation in the discussion. Class meets for one hour each week and will involve video conferencing for students on the main campus.
OXLA 488/588 Tropical Marine Biology in Panama (6 credits)
During the summer preceding the Panama field course, students will work to design and plan their research project to carry out during the field course in Panama. This pre-departure effort will involve periodic submissions of (and feedback on) planning reports organized around i) project design (questions and hypotheses) and background literature, ii) project experiments, methodology and expected data, and iii) a completed project proposal with a list of materials necessary to conduct the research. This component is included in the study abroad program course fee. Students do not enroll for it separately. Residency at OIMB is not required.
*Students cannot sign up for BI488 through Duckweb, but instead are assigned grades and credits (6) as part of the GEO study-abroad course.
September Field Course in Panama
The course in Panama will be a combination of a large number of field trips to a variety of tropical habitats (coral fringing and patch reefs, mangroves, and sea grass meadows), a planned research project with field observations, data collection and analysis, and lectures on habitats and organisms. Students will keep a daily journal of their observations and experiences and will conduct a research project lasting several days over a week long period. Assessment of student work will focus on completion and quality of journal entries and presentation of research results in the form of an oral presentation and a research poster.
2024 Field Course Dates: September 5th-19th.
Eligibility
Students must be majors in Marine Biology, Biology or Environmental Science, who by the time they leave for Panama have successfully completed at least one term at OIMB, including the BI 451 Invertebrate Zoology course offered in both spring and summer terms.
How to Apply
Applications are currently closed. Please check back in 2025.
Program Costs
The program fee (coming soon) includes all UO tuition, housing and meals while in Panama. A detailed budget is available at the GEO webpage and describes the expenses not included in the GEO program fee such as international airfare from the US to Panama and personal expenses.
The Panama course has funding from the Williams Council for a limited amount of financial aid for students who qualify. Priorities will be given to students who are Pell Grant eligible and part of the Pathway Oregon program, but any student who qualifies for financial aid may also apply for funds to partially offset the cost of this study-abroad course.
The GEO webpage also has information on scholarships. Students should start applying for the GEO or other scholarships soon because most scholarships have earlier deadlines. Students also have the option of using financial aid funds to pay for this program. Consult your financial aid advisor for details.
Program Logistics
Students will stay in the dorms on the Bocas Research Station campus. Meals will be provided. The station has a 24-hour security system. Course activities will include snorkeling, but not SCUBA. All internal travel is covered by program cost.
Contact Richard Emlet and Maya Watts for questions.
Wildlands Studies field project programs offer the rare opportunity to study critical environmental and wildlife concerns on six continents and sixteen different countries. Nomadic by design, the field-based courses evolve annually to match the latest ecological research of the region. Academically rigorous, each outdoor study program earns 15 UO credits, features direct contact and instruction with PhD credentialed faculty who are subject matter experts, contributes directly to your cumulative GPA, and UO financial aid will apply.
Learn More about Wildlands Studies
Other Study abroad Opportunities
Students can enroll as an exchange student at a top international research institution for fall or winter semester, spring semester or quarter, a full academic year, or summer term.
Exchange students experience an immersive study abroad experience, living and learning with local students in their chosen city.
Get Started: Fill out this interest form to get matched with a GEO advisor.
This program, administered by Global Education Oregon (GEO), offers internship opportunities in a wide variety of industry sectors and locations around the world.
Internship opportunities are highly customizable, and we guarantee placement in your preferred sector and location. Students earn up to eight UO credits as well as life-changing work experience in a different culture.
Please email globalworks@uoregon.edu to discuss your options.