Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25238
Education is an inescapable consequence of travel. Have you ever stood awestruck before the crumbling remnants of an ancient civilization and wondered what the inhabitants ate for dinner? Or seen the fossilized skeleton of a dinosaur and pondered the disappearance of these improbable reptiles? No matter how far-fetched or fantastic your curiosities may be. there is someone searching for the answers to your questions-and you can join them in the search. The following trips have been selected because they offer the opportunity to work side by side with recognized scientific experts. William Megill founded the Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation (CERF) in 1993 to conduct research on the biome- chanics and ecology of whales and dolphins. Megill is primarily focused on the swimming behavior of gray and humpback whales, and their use of habitat. A number of researchers are working with CERF, and there are a variety of options open to participants, depending on where their interests lie. To go with Megill means days spent aboard a boat observing whale behavior or on shore studying the intertidal zone; nights drift by as you camp beneath the stars on Canada's dramatic west coast. Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation, 877-223-2373, www.bcwhales.org, 6 days, $1,095, 9-10 group members. Located in the remote southwestern part of the Amazon Basin, the Reserve, over 900 square miles, is one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. It is home to over 900 species of birds (including parrots and macaws), 13 species of monkeys, giant otters, rare jaguars and thousands of plant species. The area contains a bounty of natural treasures to be found in the high and low altitude eco-zones. Ornithologist Barry Walker, a world authority on neo-tropical birds, has been leading research expedi- tions into the area for nearly 20 years. His staff includes biolo- gists, naturalists and wi lderness guides who provide a wealth of information about the animals and plant life in the Reserve. Adventure Specialists, 719-783-2076, www.gorp.comladventur/manu.htm. 6 days, April-January, $1,235, maximum 10 group members. 28