For students studying biology and chemistry at Mesa State the WCCTR provides an opportunity to do field studies in tropical ecology. Founded recently by several Mesa State faculty members, the WCCTR now includes scientists from the University of California, Tulane University, and Costa Rica And Ecuador. The Center strives to contribute to the understanding of complex plant-animal interactions in diverse tropical ecosystems.

"Ants and plants," is how Mesa State Biology Professor Dr. Walt Kelley describes some of the research. This research has lead to the discovery of beneficial insects that parasitise and kill plant-eating insects. These beneficial insects can be used as biological control agents for the agricultural crops in the tropics.

"We are able to take a look at how biological methods instead of chemicals can be used to control pests," says Kelley. For example, aggressive leaf-cutter ants do not disturb the Piper plants of Costa Rica (black pepper comes from an Asian Piper species). Leaf cutter ants harvest leaves to grow fungi, which is then eaten by the ants. Yet, leaf-cutting ants have been observed to not harvest leaves of the Piper. Chemicals isolated from several Piper species are currently being evaluated to determine if they inhibit the growth of fungi, some of which cause disease in humans and agricultural crops.

Mesa State faculty members who work with the Center include Kelley, Dr. Craig Dodson, Dr. Steven Werman, Dr. Tom Walla, and Dr. Aparna Palmer. Several times each year Mesa State students travel with faculty members to help with research projects. Soon even more students will have this opportunity as the WCCTR is expanding its field studies programs to include research in the tropical cloud forests of Ecuador.

It isn't just scientists and soon-to-be scientists who are using Costa Rica as a real-life workshop. Students from Mesa State's Spanish language classes also find that there is no experience like learning a culture and a language first-hand. To that end, Assistant Professor Tom Acker took a group of twenty Mesa State students to Costa Rica over the summer for a unique learning opportunity.

Learning a language in its native environment pays big dividends for the students. They get more proficient, not through a textbook, but by learning to negotiate the daily tasks involving communicating with their host families and doing business in stores and restaurants. Ultimately, the entire country serves as one big language laboratory.

"Proficiency in a foreign language is not the only goal," says Acker. "Speaking a second language enables you to gain a new perspective or world vision. The result for many Mesa State students was observing a culture in Costa Rica that is much less consumer oriented. Lifestyles are quite simple compared to ours. The pace of life was slower. So, beyond learning a language, many students returned home with a desire to simplify their own lives."

"I loved the trip," said senior Mass Communications major Melissa Sandoval. "The cultural learning opportunities are endless. I got an opportunity to see part of the world that normally I would not have experienced."