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Schutte on a canopy research catwalk, La Selva Biological Field Station

North Iowa Area Community College biology instructor, Carol Schutte, is one of 26 scientists recently chosen to attend a global change workshop in Costa Rica sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Schutte considers herself very fortunate to have been selected to participate in the workshop.

“This was a remarkable opportunity to immerse myself in tropical studies.  I’ve been on several trips to the tropics, including taking students to Belize and Costa Rica, but this time I wasn’t the one counting noses on the bus! I was the engrossed student,” Schutte said.

During a three-week global change and tropical ecosystems workshop, organized by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), professionals from a dozen countries in Latin America and the United States addressed current issues facing tropical ecosystems.  Workshop participants discussed how changes in average annual temperature and precipitation patterns can have profound effects on the biodiversity of tropical ecosystems.    The conference was held from April 22 to May 14, at three OTS biological research stations in Costa Rica, primarily at La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui, Heredia. 

"This workshop aimed to analyze the challenges currently being faced for research and conservation in tropical ecosystems in the face of global change. Along with this, the long-term research results from La Selva Biological Station were compared with the results obtained at other stations such as Monteverde, Palo Verde and Las Cruces that were also visited as part of the course,” explained Delphine K. Farmer, University of Colorado, and assistant coordinator for the workshop. 

As part of this international workshop, OTS hosted a symposium on April 26 and 27 at La Selva.  Invited guests presented talks on the importance of climate change and the challenges of presenting complex information to students at all levels, educators, policymakers, people from different cultures and the general public. The symposium was sponsored by the National Science Foundation - Research Coordination Network (RCN NSF).  Speakers shared their position and the initiatives they are developing to improve environmental conditions and responses to global climate change. 

“The lectures were stimulating and sometimes overwhelming and depressing.  Yet at the same time it was encouraging to be among such committed and energetic people,” said Schutte in retrospect.   “I believe I have made some new lifelong friends who share my same passion for improving science literacy and environmental protection.” 

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a non-profit consortium that has grown to include over 60 universities and research institutions from around the world. OTS was founded in 1963 to provide leadership in education, research and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. To address this mission, OTS conducts graduate and undergraduate education, facilitates research, participates in tropical forest conservation, maintains three biological stations in Costa Rica and conducts environmental education programs.

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