Meet the Students: Jimmy Klick

Hola! 

24 years ago I was born in Basel, a small city along the Rhine river in Switzerland, where Germany and France meet. With the Alps in my backyard I was raised with a love for the environment. However, when my family and I moved to the United States ten years ago, I would have never guessed to be here writing this post and pursuing a Master's Degree in Urban Forestry with a great interest in Restoration Ecology. 

And now, Puerto Rico awaits! I am greatly looking forward to learn everything about your beautiful island; from Ecology to Horticulture and beyond. Also, I can't wait to meet everyone and squeeze as much information out of you as possible. Hopefully, you will be doing the same to me.

All the best and see you soon! 

Jimmy

Meet the Students: Manuel Colón

Hello everyone!

My name is Manuel Colón. I'm currently a sophomore, studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Human Dimensions. I'm really excited for what I'm going to be able to learn in this class this semester. I'm of half Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, so I think I'll be able to learn more about the island and get a new perspective of it. My family is originally from Yabucoa, which is a wonderfully quaint little village that I've had the opportunity to visit twice. My family currently resides in Caimito, Guaynabo. Thus, the extent of most of my visits have been isolated to the east side of the island including Luquillo, El Yunque, Fajardo, Isla Verde, Carolina and of course San Juan. I really enjoy traveling, so I'm glad that I have the opportunity to go back to Puerto Rico and explore different parts of it that I haven't had the chance to thus far.

Hola a todos!

Me llamo Manuel Colón. Estoy en mi segundo año en la Universidad, estudiando Recursos Naturales y Ciencias Ambientales, concentrando en Aspectos Humanos. Estoy bien encantado para lo que voy aprender en este clase este semestre. Soy de herencia Mexicana y Puertoriqueña, entonces espero que pueda aprender más de la isla y que voy a tener otra perspectiva de ella. Mi family viene originalmente de Yabucoa, que es una villita bien hermosa que tenía la oportunidad de visitar dos veces. Hoy mi familia vive en Caimito, Guaynabo. Entonces lo que conozco más de la isla es su lado este incluyendo Luquillo, El Yunque, Fajardo, Isla Verde, Carolina y por supuesto San Juan. Me encanta mucho viajar, entonces estoy contento de tener la oportunidad de regresar a la isla y explorar sus otros sitios que ya no me he ido.

Overview of the Course

This is a short course combining pre-trip classroom instruction with field study in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is offered to introduce both undergraduate and graduate students to the range of horticultural crops and ecosystems common in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

This study course is expected to broaden student knowledge and understanding of (1) crop utilization and production, pest management, marketing, and economic development and (2) island ecology, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable development. Students will participate in lecture and discussion sessions on the ecology, geography, horticulture, natural resource, and economic systems in the semi-tropics and experience the people and culture of Puerto Rico. Topics will be covered from an interdisciplinary perspective and students should have a keen interest in a natural science. Quite simply, we will learn by doing. We will look, discuss, ask questions, reflect, and look again!

Lecture and discussion sessions will take place at UIUC, on the campus of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and at various field sites (farms, plantations, agri-businesses, research stations, and parks) throughout Puerto Rico. Cultural and tourist sites will also be visited.

The Puerto Rico segment will take place in May 2008. However prior to the visit, enrolled students are expected to conduct research, give an oral presentation, post the presentation on this site, write a paper, maintain a journal, and interact with students enrolled in Horticulture or Biology at the Mayagüez campus.