Special
Events
STRI special events, June 2024
BCI 100, Book giveaway during visit to Bocas Station, School vacations at Punta Culebra and more
BCI 100: a century of tropical science in Panama
On June 18-21, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) commemorated 100 years of scientific research on Barro Colorado Island (BCI) with a symposium held at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve where former researchers, fellows and interns gathered to strengthen the scientific community, foster collaboration and reflect on the next 100 years of tropical research and education. The symposium included scientific lectures, poster presentations, panel discussions, an alumni reunion, a Bioblitz which is a community science activity to identify as many species as possible. There were also field tours and interactive, hands-on workshops led by expert scientists in addition to a bat night, a BCI film festival, analysis of the potential of new technologies, discussions on future research directions, and discussions on contributing to a more diverse and inclusive future.
Book giveaway during visit to Bocas Station
Recently STRI's research station in Bocas del Toro received a visit from a school group from Bajo Cedro called EPA (Educators for Environmental Progress). During their visit the students learned about endangered wildlife, used laboratory instruments, and observed marine life, which enriched their learning experience. The visit concluded with the book Martina and the Bridge of Time as a gift to the children who were very enthusiastic about the books.
Photos courtesy of Viviana Guerra
School vacations at Punta Culebra
During the school vacation week, Punta Culebra offered fun activities for the whole family. One day was dedicated to flying insects, with special emphasis on butterflies and moths. Participants were able to learn about the life cycle of butterflies with live specimens in each stage, among other captivating details and explanations from our resident expert, Cruz Batista and the Punta Culebra guides. Another activity was marine animal day, with games and activities to learn about sharks and rays, and Panama's sea turtles.
Bridging the Americas Special Program
STRI and the National Zoo Migratory Bird Center once again joined forces with the special program Bridging the Americas. This time, part of the program included a visit to Punta Culebra by 26 students from the C.E.B.G. Playa Chiquita school in La Chorrera, who put their birding skills into practice during activities with expert guides at Punta Culebra.
SSEATs
The Smithsonian Science Education Academies for Teachers (SSEATs) recently took place in Washington DC and Panama City, Panama with the participation of 10 Panamanian teachers (representing 7 provinces and 3 comarcas) and 10 U.S. teachers who had the opportunity to visit museums and laboratories, and share with experts on issues relating individual, community and global resilience.
Q?rius and Q?rioso meet!
On June 27th, Dr. Carla Easter (Assistant Director of Education, Outreach, and Visitor Experience) and Efrain Tejada (Q?rius & Family Programs Manager) of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) visited Punta Culebra. They toured Q?rioso, an interactive educational space based on NMNH’s Q?rius, for the first time since its opening in 2022.
