Monday night we went out to the lab pond at night. Stephanie Gutierrez and Ximena Bernal were are frog guides. This night has been one of the biggest highlights of this trip. The very first night I remember being so amazed by this new mysterious sound at night- the tungara frog! The male creates a Read More …

We have taken many beautiful hikes through the rain forest and we are seeing the beauty and diversity of fungi.

Today was incredible. Dr. Van Bael brought us to a Wounaan Indian Village. One of the young ladies gave us a tour of the forest and showed us how they live off the land. This is truly an unforgettable experience.

We have been seeing and learning so much here in Panama. Yesterday we went to Barro Colorado Island and went on a 3-hour hike in the rainforest. I finally got to see monkeys! We saw white-faced capuchins (well really just saw them running and playing high in the canopy) and heard mantled howler monkeys! They were Read More …

Wow! I have been in Panama now for 4 days and it has been absolutely mind-blowing! We’ve gotten to listen to two lectures or talks already- one on bats and one on the use of animal resources in ancient Mayan culture. We’ve taken a short hike in the rainforest, gotten to see leaf cutter ants Read More …

We are happy to welcome to the project Jeanell Sullivan, Jodi Sanchez and Katie Adler, three teachers from New Orleans. They arrived yesterday and have already participated in Bat night and some brief tours and meetings around the new Gamboa lab. This afternoon they go for their first hike in the forest.   

In June, three schoolteachers from New Orleans joined our lab work as we prepared them for our trip to Panama. They are participating in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Teachers program. They each came to the Van Bael lab for several days to get acquainted with some of the basic techniques in endophyte Read More …

My name is Steven Medina and I will be spending the summer in and around Gamboa, Panama as an REU for Professor Sunshine Van Bael. I just wanted to use this blog as an opportunity to introduce myself and some of the cool things I’ll get to do this summer as a research assistant affiliated Read More …

  Liz Kimbrough Ph.D. Student 25 June 2017 As you look around a forest or out into your garden, you may have noticed that leaves come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why leaves have these different traits? In order to be successful, plants must Read More …

Back at Tulane University in the Van Bael lab, Courtney and Steven work on culturing and identifying the leaf pathogens that were collected in the summer of 2016. Steven is joining the Panama team in summer 2017.