This course explores the ways in which sea turtle welfare, conservation, and research take place on-the-ground at the nonprofit LAST, the Latin American Sea Turtle Association, located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. As a class, we will combine lecture and active engagement to explore the issues sea turtles face today and what we can do to help them. We will learn about sea turtle behavior, biology, and care while staying at a center focusing on research and rehabilitation. Outside of our sea turtle work, we will also explore the various ways LAST engages with the local community and take trips to local spots of cultural and natural importance. This course is highly participatory and every day involves regular physical activity, including work on boats and kayaks and hiking in tropical mountains.
- Profesor: Tim Bransford