Subject: Field course on Costa Rica - Tropical Fungi and Plant Health
PLSC489U/689J

Description:
I will be teaching a short-term course in the summer 2015 entitled Tropical
Fungi and Plant Health (PLSC489U/689J). This will be a field course in Costa
Rica.

Here is an overview of the course:

This field course in Costa Rica will teach students about fungi in their
natural habitats and in agricultural settings. Students will learn how fungi
can affect crop and natural plants. This will be accomplished by hands-on
learning in the field and laboratory in the forests and agricultural fields
where the plants grow. Students will visit natural tropical forests, and
collect and identify from microscopic fungi to macroscopic mushrooms. The
students will also visit farms where different crops are produced, from very
local subsistence agriculture (for example, rice and beans and other
vegetables) to large-scale agriculture for export to the United States (for
example, bananas, pineapples, ornamentals, and others). Students will learn
how to identify plant diseases that affect those crops. Students from the
University of Costa Rica (UCR) will also participate. Students from both
universities will develop short research projects during the course.

This course follows a very similar format to those taught by the Organization
of Tropical Studies (OTS); for those of you who know about them.

Dates: July 19 – August 2, 2015. Hurry up! Application deadline is March
1st!

There is space for 8-12 UMD students, graduate and/or undergraduate. There
will be a similar number of Costa Rican students participating.

For more information, go to:
http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/education-abroad/program/11218.

The next INFORMATION SESSION is this Wednesday February 18th, 12-1 pm, Rm.
2107 Plant Science Building. I will be available for questions or more
information about the course.

Please help me spread the word out. If you have questions or want more
information, please contact me.

Priscila Chaverri
-------------------------
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
University of Maryland
2112 Plant Sciences Bldg.
College Park, Maryland 20742
UNITED STATES
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: +1 301 405-7041
URL: http://psla.umd.edu/research/research-lab-pages/mycology-chaverri-lab

Contact Person: Priscila Chaverri
Contact Email: [log in to unmask]