SOC Research Programs | STEM | Original Research

Costa Rica Science Research

High School Immersion Programs

Seeds of Change, Inc. is a Minnesota 501(C)(3)
non-profit corporation with a mission to influence high school students to pursue science-related careers by immersing them in original research experiences that ignite in each student a passion for science. Our programs deliberately relate real-world problems of enormous consequences for mankind to student research.

Seeds of Change (SOC) Extracting leafcutter ant fungus garden - Tropical Field Research Program - Costa Rica

Tropical Field Biology Research

Field Research (8 days)

Marine Research &

Homestay (2 days)

Students in grades 9-12 join two teachers/chaperones to form a tropical field research group of 16 students from their school or local area.

There are no prerequisites for the program, but biology is preferred. The summer immersion program is based in Colonia Libertad, Costa Rica at the juncture of the premontane and rainforest biomes (first 8 days).

The program ends in El Jobo Costa Rica (2 days) where students stay with local families near the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and conduct stingray capture/release research and off-season sea turtle nesting sweeps.

Seeds of Change Marine Research Program - Sea Turtle Ultrasound

January Turtle & Ray Research

Turtle Nesting Research (4 days) Marine Research &

Homestay (3 days)

Students in grades 9-12 join together from one or multiple schools or homeschools to form a 7-day January sea turtle and ray research group.

Completion of the SOC Tropical Field Biology Research Program is a prerequisite for this program. The program starts at the Horizontes Forest Research Station (4 days) where students work with the Leatherback trust.

The program ends in El Jobo Costa Rica (3 days) where students stay with local families and conduct sea turtle and ray capture/release research as well as high-season sea turtle nesting research on the Pacific coast.

Seeds of Change (SOC) Bioinformatics Program Marine Research - Hawksbill Turtle

Bioinformatics Research

Bioinformatics (7 days)

Marine Research &

Homestay (3 days)

Students (16-22) in grades 10-12 come together from one or multiple schools or homeschools to form a bioinformatics research immersion group.

Completion of biology and the SOC Field Research Program are prerequisites for this program. The summer bioinformatics immersion program is based near Monteverde or La Fortuna Costa Rica (first 7 days).

The program ends in El Jobo Costa Rica (3 days) where students stay with local families. Here they conduct sea turtle and ray capture and release as well as sea turtle nesting research on the Pacific coast.