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*********UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA (SAN PEDRO)***********
BIOENVIRONMENTAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDY IN ENGLISH

	The rain forest is being destroyed.  Day by day and hour by hour 
trees fall, the soil is turned and fields of fruit or grain are planted. 
 This, for thousands of years, has been the way man has been able to 
advance his standard of living.  As populations grow so does this need 
for new land that will produce.  Although an integral aspect of the 
nature of man, this methodology is lethal for the rain forest and a dead 
end street for those who pursue it.  Old Growth rain forest is extremely 
efficient in its use of nutrients.  The abundant life utilizes all 
nutrients as soon as they become available in the soil, leaving it 
extremely poor and limited to only a few short years of conventional 
farming.  If the old methods continue we will soon be left with infertile 
land and will have destroyed this most valuable resource in the process.
	There is hope, however.  Through the advancement of technology, 
man continues to discover new ways of producing valuable goods from the 
rain forest.  Not through conventional farming, but through utilizing its 
natural biodiversity.  Throughout the ages, natural selection has woven 
an incredibly rich tapestry of bio-materials balanced in an equilibrium 
of relationships.  Through continued research, all of these materials and 
relationships will have potential applications.  Many of these 
applications currently fuel industry and fill world markets.  Although a 
great deal of discovery has been accomplished, the vast majority of 
unique materials and relationships remain undiscovered. This remaining 
bounty holds the solution to many of man�s present and future problems 
and the key to wealth and financial stability in the regions where it is 
found.  
	The amount of work it is going to take to fully understand the 
vast matrix of rain forest life is immense.  What we must rely on is 
young men and women with the motivation, tools and experience to develop 
proposals and execute initiatives that safeguard and advance our 
understanding of this interlaced web of diverse life.
	Saving the rain forest will buy the time needed to understand the 
vast interworking of this environment, but this is only one side of the 
equation.  Study and research is the other.  Unfortunately, very few 
people have the expertise to systematically catalog, monitor and evaluate 
the rain forest.  
	Many programs offered by the universities of the world�s 
developed nations maintain exemplary standards of rain forest study.  
However,  previous generations of the developed nations have destroyed 
most of their old growth areas rich in biodiversity.  Developed nations 
where the natural environment has been replaced with steel, structure, 
culture, and human creation lack access to crucial field research . 
Without exposure to biologically diverse ecology, most students do not 
acquire the predilection to undertake, nor the dedication to fulfill the 
intricate and multifaceted course of study required for a meaningful 
positive influence on the conservation of biodiversity.  
	With the exception of Costa Rica, the areas of the world where 
the rain forest remains have neither suitable educational structure nor 
stable political climates.  Fortunately, the University of Costa Rica has 
developed a hands on educational structure where students can learn the 
exceedingly involved and complicated process of saving the rain forest.  
Their Ecology of the Rain Forest,  Natural History, and Biodiversity and 
Conservation courses are second to none in the world.  Now, in an effort 
to make this opportunity available to a wider group of students, The 
University of Costa Rica and World Class Adventures in Education have 
developed a program that will suit the needs of most international 
students.  The courses will be taught in English and will be based on the 
semester system with abundant opportunities for field research. 
	Tuition for all biology and Spanish courses, credit transfer, 
home stay, meals, airfare, health benefits and all field research 
expenses are included for $6,200.
	All students who are interested should contact World Class 
Adventures in Education, 1300 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 1750, Houston, Texas 
77056.  Our e-mail address is WorldC@sam.neosoft.com.  Let us know about 
your interests, background and opinions.