Over winter break, a group of Washington College students, led by biology professor Dr. Kathleen Verville, traveled to Puerto Rico to study the subtropical biology of the region. The for-credit trip was part of a joint program with the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.
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Aliina Lahti '09 records soil composition information in her lab notebook in the El Yunque National Rainforest

In the Center for Environmental Education Conservation and Research at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Kim Friel ’11 and Lauren Brunt ’10 record information in their lab notebooks, while Christine Lynch ’11 studies a tropical field guide.

Aliina Lahti and Amanda Trumble '10 look on as Melanie Beaver '10 takes a photo of a plant in the Guanica Dry Forest Reserve

Amanda Trumble gets a closer look at aquatic life in Guanica

After examining coral reefs at Playa Buye, Amanda Trumble records her findings from the beach

The students explored picturesque San Juan upon their arrival in Puerto Rico

A student notebook with a leaf sample from the El Yunque National Forest

Kelly Abbott poses with one of her Puerto Rican discoveries

(L-R) Lauren Brunt, Kelly Abbott, Keenen Wheeler, Kim Friel and Caitlin Seldin

Lauren Brunt examines a starfish at Playa Buye

Kelly Abbott enjoys the view of a waterfall in the rainforest