1. Costa Rica 2013
AP Chemistry

2. Presentation Agenda
• Introduction to Scholastic Expeditions
• Our programs
• Research opportunities
• Community service
• Fun stuff!
• Benefits for college-bound students
• How to sign up

3. Scholastic Expeditions
What we’re all about...
• Hands-on science in the field
• Helping out Costa Rican communities
• Awesome fun activities
• Inspiring future global citizens and
scientists!

4. Ride into Costa Rica!
• Begin your
adventure...

5. Research Facilities
Earth University
• Interact with professors and students at ITCR
and Earth University

6. Research Facilities
• Costa Rica’s national marine
science center, ECMAR

7. Research Facilities
• Parque Marino del Pacifico, National Aquarium
Facilities at Puntarenas

8. INBio
• National Institute of Biodiversity
• Non-profit, public interest organization
• Collects and analyzes samples of biota from various
Costa Rican ecosystems
• Searches for useful chemical compounds within the
samples they find (a process called bio-prospecting)
• Uses the information collected to influence
sustainability and conservation efforts of Costa
Rican biodiversity

9. INBio Activities
• Phytochemical validation of medicinal plants
• Training in chromatographic analysis applied to
plants
• Analysis using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance Spectroscopy)
• Preparation and lyophilization of extracts
• Development of extracts and
phytopharmaceuticals
• Development of analysis methods through HPLC
(High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
• Analysis, isolation, and characterization of organic
compounds
• Obtaining tinctures and essential oils

10. Bio-prospecting
• Applications
• Genetic research/Gene therapy
• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical science
• Biotech
• Cosmetics
• Food science
• Agricultural science

11. Water Testing
• Test for water
quality at
various locations
in Costa Rica
• 5 sites
• Tropical Forest
• Dry Tropical Forest
• Brackish waters, etc.

12. Water Biochemistry
• How do the chemical properties and
composition of water support different
types of life?
• Test:
• Water pH
• dissolved oxygen
• coliform bacteria, etc.
• then compare different types of organisms found in each habitat

13. Other Research Possibilities
• Harvest medicinal plants and isolate
active compounds (pharmacology)
• Venom analysis/anti-venom
production
• Determine exposure causes of
unexplained animal deaths (toxicology)
• Organic fertilizer study/ production

14. Community Service
• Help out at a
Costa Rican
school

15. Community Service
• Plant native trees

16. Eco-farm
• Learn about sustainable farming

17. Banana Plantation
• Visit a banana
plantation
• Learn about Costa
Rican agriculture
• Try your hand at
bagging bananas!

18. Hiking
• Sendero Gavilan
walking trail

19. Arenal Volcano National
Park
• Hike through lava
flows
• Become a volcanologist
for the day

20. Volcanic Hot Springs
• Spend the evening
relaxing in Arenal’s
natural volcanic hot
springs

21. White Water Rafting
On Rio Sarapiqui

22. Monteverde Canopy Tour
• Zipline through the cloud forest!

23. Hotels
El Establo
Volcano Lodge

24. Costa Rican Food

25. Beef up your College Apps
• Not just any extracurricular...
• Get firsthand research experience
• Cultural/language exposure
• Community service
• A great topic for application essays!

26. Broaden Your Mind
• With knowledge from subject areas like:
• Ecology
• Biology
• Spanish
• And, of course, Chemistry!

27. A World Away
• Where in the U.S. can Quetzal
you see...
Gray Fox
• Rare exotic species
• Beautiful rainforest Three-toed Sloth

28. Make it Happen!
• Contact your supervising teacher or
Susan Schai at (831) 440-1041
• The adventure of a lifetime awaits you!

29. Possible Trip Dates
• Spring break: April 1st-7th, 7 days
• Summer: June 24th-July 2nd, 8 days
• Spring or summer trip decided
among participants

30. How to Register
• Two part process:
1. Sign up online at
www.ScholasticExpeditions.org
2. Send deposit of $250 to:
• 5610 Scotts Valley Dr. Ste. 313
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
• And you’re all set!

31. Contact Info
• Susan Schai
• susans@scholasticexpeditions.org
• (831) 440-1041
• 5610 Scotts Valley Dr. Ste. 313
Scotts Valley, CA 95066