Biology students to study in Belize
Cheyenne Gerdes
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
The ASU Biological Sciences Department is offering a 10-day study abroad course titled "Field Experiences in Marine Systems" in Belize May 15-24.
The class will be focusing on "looking at the local habitats, environments, animals and plants," Rich Grippo, the professor of the course, said. "Looking at how they interact with each other and the environment and how humans have an impact on these populations."
The cost for the trip is approximately $3,000, which includes room, board, tuition and transportation, but it is possible for students to get travel vouchers for up to $1,000.
Non-biology majors are allowed on the trip. Credit earned on the trip counts for 3 hours of general biology lab credit at ASU.
Students will spend 3 days on the mainland, with a variety of activities to choose from, such as exploring tropical rainforests, visiting Mayan ruins, river floats, visiting the Belize zoo and others.
"This first part is pretty flexible," Grippo said. "Students will pick what they want to do."
The second portion of the class will be spent on Ambergris Caye, an island that is home to part of the world's second largest barrier reef system.
Activities here will include snorkeling, exploring mangrove islets and a visit to Shark/Ray Alley, where students will swim with nurse sharks and stingrays.
"Your heart is racing," Grippo said.
Despite the excitement, the nurse sharks, while not domesticated, are tame and the stingrays are unable to sting students.
"It's not just marine biology, there is a lot of culture to learn also," Grippo said. "I think it's going be a fantastic opportunity to go to an English speaking country that takes U.S. dollars but is still relatively undeveloped."
Kate Haagenson, a senior biology major from Hot Springs, plans on taking the course.
"I became interested in the trip because even though my undergrad work I am involved in now consists of general biology, my graduate work will be focused in on marine mammal conservation and rehabilitation," she said. "Since we are landlocked, I am very much so anticipating the opportunity to have hands-on experience with all the organisms I read about. For me, this is a chance to live a piece of what I have dreamed of doing after school. We live on such a huge planet with so many things going on, all so incredibly different and yet still with one tying factor connecting us all. I want to be able to experience, to be influenced and be exposed to as much as possible."
Students planning on attending need to pay a deposit of $300 by Feb. 8. Students will also need a passport, snorkeling equipment, and the course's textbook. Free snorkeling lessons will be available through Grippo.
"I would just like to mention that we need at least 12 people going in order to make this trip happen," Haagenson said. "I encourage all to look into it. Any major is acceptable and it's affordable compared to a lot of other study abroad trips. This course is not offered every year and is going to be such an indescribable experience. Dr. Grippo, the leading professor, is a lot of fun and knows his stuff too."
Applications are available on the ASU biological sciences Web site. Any questions can be e-mailed to rgrippo@astate.edu.
"I never talked to anyone who has gone to Belize and didn't like it," Grippo said.
The class will be focusing on "looking at the local habitats, environments, animals and plants," Rich Grippo, the professor of the course, said. "Looking at how they interact with each other and the environment and how humans have an impact on these populations."
The cost for the trip is approximately $3,000, which includes room, board, tuition and transportation, but it is possible for students to get travel vouchers for up to $1,000.
Non-biology majors are allowed on the trip. Credit earned on the trip counts for 3 hours of general biology lab credit at ASU.
Students will spend 3 days on the mainland, with a variety of activities to choose from, such as exploring tropical rainforests, visiting Mayan ruins, river floats, visiting the Belize zoo and others.
"This first part is pretty flexible," Grippo said. "Students will pick what they want to do."
The second portion of the class will be spent on Ambergris Caye, an island that is home to part of the world's second largest barrier reef system.
Activities here will include snorkeling, exploring mangrove islets and a visit to Shark/Ray Alley, where students will swim with nurse sharks and stingrays.
"Your heart is racing," Grippo said.
Despite the excitement, the nurse sharks, while not domesticated, are tame and the stingrays are unable to sting students.
"It's not just marine biology, there is a lot of culture to learn also," Grippo said. "I think it's going be a fantastic opportunity to go to an English speaking country that takes U.S. dollars but is still relatively undeveloped."
Kate Haagenson, a senior biology major from Hot Springs, plans on taking the course.
"I became interested in the trip because even though my undergrad work I am involved in now consists of general biology, my graduate work will be focused in on marine mammal conservation and rehabilitation," she said. "Since we are landlocked, I am very much so anticipating the opportunity to have hands-on experience with all the organisms I read about. For me, this is a chance to live a piece of what I have dreamed of doing after school. We live on such a huge planet with so many things going on, all so incredibly different and yet still with one tying factor connecting us all. I want to be able to experience, to be influenced and be exposed to as much as possible."
Students planning on attending need to pay a deposit of $300 by Feb. 8. Students will also need a passport, snorkeling equipment, and the course's textbook. Free snorkeling lessons will be available through Grippo.
"I would just like to mention that we need at least 12 people going in order to make this trip happen," Haagenson said. "I encourage all to look into it. Any major is acceptable and it's affordable compared to a lot of other study abroad trips. This course is not offered every year and is going to be such an indescribable experience. Dr. Grippo, the leading professor, is a lot of fun and knows his stuff too."
Applications are available on the ASU biological sciences Web site. Any questions can be e-mailed to rgrippo@astate.edu.
"I never talked to anyone who has gone to Belize and didn't like it," Grippo said.
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