Costa Rice International Research Experience (CRIRE)
December 2019
The All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ANLSAMP) program in conjunction with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), announces the third short-term international research experience for eligible American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) undergraduates. The goal of the Costa Rica International Research Experience (CRIRE) project is fourfold, 1) enhance research skills for students, 2) enhance research and mentoring skills for faculty researchers, 3) to improve the participation rate in the full 8-week summer research program by exposing AMP scholars to an international experience on a short term project, and 4) development of cultural capital of participants through cross-cultural and cross-institutional experiences.
The program will be a total of 13 days, with nine full days at the Las Cruces Biological Station (LCBS) learning and conducting research with scientists and indigenous experts from Panama, as well as participating in short field trips to explore local culture. Students, along with their Faculty Mentors are expected to complete a small field project, including experimental design, data gathering, and analysis to prepare for a presentation of results at the conclusion of the program. Students and Faculty Mentors will experience the process of applying the scientific method to ecological inquiry and discovery in a collaborative and team-oriented environment.
Each year, 4-5 indigenous ecological experts from Panama are invited to join the CRIRE AI/AN scholars, working with each group on their research projects. In this manner the CRIRE program provides the opportunity for an integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with STEM research projects. The global indigenous exchange is a core component to the CRIRE program.
Follow student and faculty participants as they blog about their experiences and observations:
Director
- Steve Dupuis (Salish Kootenai College)
Coordinator
- Scott Walter (Organization for Tropical Studies)
Indigenous Experts from Panama
(sponsored by CIHCE at Heritage Univeristy and SKC AN LSAMP)
- Celestino Mariano Gallardo (Ngabe Presidente AA-MICRO Environmental Organization, wildlife expert)
- Armando Sire (Ngabe biologist/medicinal plant expert)
- Lucia Jiron (Ngabe artesania)
- Lazaro Mecha (Embera plant and wildlife expert)
- Caferino Sarco (Embera plant and wildlife expert)
Heritage University
- Co-coodinator and Field Mentor
- Jessica Black (Heritage University)
- Field Mentor
- Corbin Schuster (Oregon State University)
- Videographer
- Lucas Hamilton (University of Oregon, sponsored by HU)
- Student Researchers
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College
- Field Mentor
- Deb Anderson (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College)
- Student Researchers
Salish Kootenai College
- PI/Director
- Steve Dupuis (Salish Kootenai College)
- Student Researchers
United Tribes Technical College
- Field Mentor
- Mandy Guinn (United Tribes Technical College)
- Student Researchers
University of Idaho
- Field Mentor
- Juan Moreira (University of Missouri, St. Louis)
- Student Researchers
White Earth Tribal Community College
- Field Mentor
- Rachel Olzer (University of Minnesota)
- Student Researchers