UWF Honor Students visit SBT and Bocas

I dreamed of establishing an extension center here in Bocas for my university, the University of West Florida. There are so many issues we could work on solutions to together and what an amazing research area. So in September of 2007, I wrote an article for my alma mater’s newspaper as a means to re-introduce myself to the current faculty and student body. I basically said, here is an alumni living in one of the most spectacular areas of Central America, come visit me. I then wrote an email to all of the departments inviting them to look at the article and to consider bringing students to Panama instead of Costa Rica.

I was contacted by two of the university professors and one began a dialogue as to what issues would the students find of interest in Bocas? We found plenty of topics to discuss. We then planned out a week of activities including: attending the installation of a new type of bio-digesting septic tank, looking at alternative energy housing and bioclimatic design, and visiting the Naso Indians located up the Changuinola River by canoe. The Bocas trip was set.

On May 5th, 2008, 12 University of West Florida Honor students accompanied by Dr. Klaus Meyer-Arendt, visited Bocas and Panama for the first time. There were students with majors in marine biology, cultural anthropology, communications, environmental engineering, and social services. Their main emphasis here was to look at sustainable development in an emerging second world country.

We directly observed and discussed many issues related to Bocas; tourism, the real estate boom, population growth, aging infrastructure, environmental issues, and education. Our visits included the town of Old Bank, the indigenous Ngobe community at Salt Creek, and a bioclimatically designed house, which is also solar powered. One student plans to return and write her thesis on the Ngobe shaman we meet. Dr. Meyers-Arendt plans to promote Bocas for future trips. We will continue to work together to arrange for other departments to make Bocas one of their international trip locations.

The students saw multiple other cultures and their way of living in one small area. I think many gained a new understanding of the life these different people live. I believe that their visit will bring about the interest in Bocas I had hoped for. And one day a UWF Bocas extension center may become a reality.