Offered continuously since 1964, this course is the flagship offering of OTS. It is designed for students in the early stages of graduate study in biology, ecology, evolution, or other related fields, with the goal of drilling students in formulation of feasible research questions, data collection, analysis, and oral and written reporting. As such, it imbues participants with the tenets of inquiry−based investigative science, in the incomparable, stimulating setting of the many different accessible, diverse tropical habitats of Costa Rica.

Winter Session (Dry season); 8 weeks
January 25 - March 15, 2010
Arrive January 24, depart March 16 2010
Application form
 Flyer Version for printing (  351 kb ) 
OPEN ENROLLMENT / MATRICULA ABIERTA

The Spanish language analog of Tropical Biology, this course provides rigorous training in research methods in tropical ecology, and includes a field unit on conservation biology in the tropics. The course is primarily intended to serve Latin American graduate students regardless of institutional affiliation, although Spanish–speaking graduate students may apply regardless of nationality. Partial fellowships may be available.

Enero 14 – Febrero 23, 2011
Fecha límite Junio 15, 2010
 Application form (  295 kb )
 Flyer Version for printing (  1.66 Mb ) 
 

Offered in even–numbered years, this course emphasizes a strong conceptual foundation in phylogenetic systematics in an intensive field setting. The course travels to diverse habitats around Costa Rica, from cloud forest and paramo to tropical dry forest and Atlantic lowland rain forest. This course is next offered in 2008 (application deadline in March 2008) as it alternates with OTS–18, the Spanish language version of the course which is offered in odd years.

June 10 - July 13, 2010
Arrive June 9, depart July 14, 2010
Application Deadline February 15, 2010
Application form

Offered in odd–numbered years, this course is the Spanish language version of Tropical Plant Systematics. It emphasizes a strong conceptual foundation in phylogenetic systematics in an intensive field setting. The course travels to diverse habitats around Costa Rica, from cloud forest and páramo to monsoonal dry forest and Atlantic lowland rainforest. It is primarily intended to serve Latin American graduate students regardless of institutional affiliation, although Spanish–speaking graduate students from OTS member institutions are encouraged to apply regardless of nationality. Partial fellowships may be available.

June 8 - July 11, 2011
Arrive June 7 – Depart July 12, 2011
Application Deadline November 5, 2010 
Application Form (  292 kb )

The OTS-IRES program is designed for graduate students in biology or related fields interested in conducting field research under the supervision of experienced tropical wetland and tropical forest ecologists from Costa Rica.

For M.Sc. and Ph.D. students
 Funds for Palo Verde research through April 30, 2010 (program end date)
 Internacional Research Experience for Graduate Students Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer through April 2010. Dry Forest Ecology and Water Resource Management at Palo Verde Biolical station, Costa Rica 
Application Form (  166 kb )
OPEN ENROLLMENT / MATRICULA ABIERTA

Este curso es una oportunidad de capacitación para profesionales recién egresados o para aquellos de agencias tanto públicas como privadas que trabajan o desean trabajar en temas vinculados a las áreas protegidas o a la conservación, así como para estudiantes que cursan postgrados o últimos semestres de pregrado en programas relacionados a las ciencias de la conservación.

10 de abril al 7 de mayo del 2009 – Perú
 Formulario de solicitud (  92 kb )

This intensive field course, offered in collaboration with Peruvian institutions, focuses on a series of Amazonian ecosystems along an altitudinal gradient from the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes to the lowlands. Competency in designing and carrying out field–based investigation and familiarization with some of the key factors influencing Amazonian ecosystems are major objectives of the course. These are cast against an examination of how elements of global change are affecting these systems. This course is primarily intended to serve Latin American graduate students. It will be particularly relevant for those from, or who work in, countries bordering the Amazon. However Spanish–speaking graduate students from OTS member institutions are encouraged to apply regardless of nationality. Partial fellowships may be available. This course is offered in Spanish.

Del 24 de Setiembre al 21 de Octubre del 2008
Application Form (  285 kb )

This intensive field course in Spanish, offered in collaboration with the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL) and Louisiana State University, introduces students to the ecology and management of tropical coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico, from the wetlands of the coastal lowlands to the seashore. This course serves graduate students of any nationality who have Spanish language proficiency.

Del 29 de enero al9 de marzo de 2007
Arribo 28 de Enero, partida 10 de Marzo
Application Form (  286 kb )

This course is offered by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), the Smithsonian Institution, and the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Emphasis is on the ecology of flooded and terra firme forests in the region around Manaus in Brazil. The course is designed for Brazilian and other graduate students who are fluent in Portuguese. Tuition and travel support may be available. Application materials should be requested from, and completed applications sent to: Dr. José Luís Camargo, PDBFF/INPA, – Caixa Postal 478 CEP 69011970, Manaus, AM, Brazil, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Applications
OPEN ENROLLMENT / MATRICULA ABIERTA

The Tropical Biology Association (TBA) is a consortium of European and African universities. OTS and TBA offer a limited exchange of participants. For 2009, places will be available for up to two OTS students in each TBA course offered in East Africa or Madagascar. Applicants must have completed at least three years of their first degree in a biological science by June 2007. Tuition for selected participants is the same as for TBA member institutions. Contact OTS and the TBA website for information.

Details