Rainforest Field Course for Teachers

This summer, two members of the Untamed Science crew will be involved in an amazing field course led by biologists Joe Levine and Barbara Bentley.  The course is designed to help teachers learn about the nature of science and the fundamental pedagogy of science education.  More simply the course aims to teach that science isn't just about learning facts, but about designing experiments that may or may not work the way you planned them.  While the course is being conducted, Untamed Science will be involved in helping teach course participants how to plan and shoot their own science videos for use in the classroom, and how to encourage their students to make and use videos as ways to make learning science fun. We hope the Untamed Science contribution to the course helps to make it the best tropical field course for science teachers.

Who, What, When, Where

When is the course

Course dates are from July 6th to July 21st 2011. For more details on the course dates and a preliminary schedule visit the official course website:

Who Teachers the Course

The course is taught by Dr. Joe Levine and Barbara Bentley.  The video portion of the course will be tentatively lead by two Untamed Science team members - crew to be decided later.

• Read Joe Levine's Ecogeek Profile
• Read Barbara Bentley's Ecogeek Profile

The Course: Inquiry and Conservation in the Rainforests

Learn more about Joe Levine, Barbara Bentley and the details of the course from the official web page: Inquiry and Conservation in Rainforests: A Summer Field Course for Teachers 

Video from the Course and at La Selva

An Ecogeek Species Video: Tailless Whip Scorpions

Shot in La Selva Costa Rica, this video profiles researcher Eben Gering while he studies amblypigids. Tailless whip scorpions (often called whip spiders), are scientifically referred to as amblypigids because they belong to the order Amblypigi. They have been given the name tailless whip scorpions because of their lack of a tail (telson). In fact, “amblypigid” means “blunt rump”.

Amblypygids are arachnids. Spiders, scorpions, mites, daddy longlegs and other less well-known groups (see diagram below) are their closest living relatives. Read more about them here.

Watch an Ecogeek biome video about Rainforests

We shot this short episode while at a research station in Panama: Barro Colorado Island. Unlike a species profile video, this type of video introduces a general scientific topic. In this case it introduces the general concept of the tropical rainforest.  Other biological concepts that would make a great video are forest succession or biodiversity. 

Related Videos from Untamed Science

• Learn about the Island where we shot the Rainforest Island: Barro Colorado Island
• Our video on Biodiversity - shot from the rainforests
• Hazen's Rap video from the rainforest

Meet Other Faces from Untamed Science

Rob Nelson: Rob is both a marine biologist and filmmaker by training.  He has been an active guiding force in Untamed Science since the idea to teach and inspire first occured to Rob.  He now leads the podcasting efforts, world biomes site, and biodiversity pages. He also stars as an oncamera personality in many of the episodes of the new BioAdventures DVD that is being produced with Pearson Publishing. Rob is an active Scuba Diver and Extreme Sports junkie ... more on Rob

Jonas Stenstrom: Jonas is one of the lead producers for our science outreach videos online and through Pearson Publishing. He is the primary Dive Rite Ambassador contact for the crew and is working to help promote Ocean Awareness with the Untamed Science team.  Jonas worked with the Save our Seas Grant to help promote ocean awareness through a whole slew of online aquatic ecosystem videos. He also has a passion for adventure sports. Jonas is also an oncamera host ... more on Jonas

Hazen Audel: Hazen is a native of Eastern Washington. He is an avid adventurer and currently works as a biology teacher and artist. Hazen is one of our oncamera hosts for the ecogeeks.  He is also the primary producer for the Mushrooms chapter video that will premiere with the BioAdventures Video Series that is coming out in the new Macaw books with Pearson Publishing.  Hazen works to promote education through his videos and teaching ... more about Hazen

Haley Chamberlain: Haley is one of our oncamera Ecogeek faces.  She is both a biologist and actress by training.  As an ecogeek she has ben in charge of our elementary science programs and music videos.  Her passion for music and learning have gone far beyond her on camera presence however.  Haley travels extensively to schools around the country giving shows about science to students of all ages. Read more about Haley

The Course Facebook Page

Join our group

If you're part of the group or just want to see whats going on, join the group page on facebook.

See more Untamed Science videos

Untamed Science produces close to 100 short videos a year. They're seen all over the web, as well as in school classrooms. Here is a small selection of some of the videos we produce.